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It's a design feature dating back to when there were no easy ways to transport the engines. It's a perfectly cromulent way to transport a 747 engine, just uncom
by bragr 4y ago
It's a design feature dating back to when there were no easy ways to transport the engines. It's a perfectly cromulent way to transport a 747 engine, just uncommon these days because there are many large air freighters now (like the 747 itself). The idea was that in the early days of the 747, airlines could be self sufficient in transporting engines and their new expensive planes wouldn't get stranded.
- dotancohen 4y agoIt should be noted in context that original the 747 could, like the 737 before it, service airfields too small to have service centers. Therefore, it was important that another 747 could ferry in all parts needed to service a potentially damaged 747 at these locations, including an entire engine. Most aircraft with such capability are identified by the inclusion of built-in stairs for passenger ingress/egress, which the 747-100 had.
- bragr 4y agoThe 737-200 had an optional gravel kit for unpaved runways! A few -200s still in use because of that feature
- rkagerer 4y agoNeat - kind of like mid flaps for planes. Also thank you for teaching me a new word, "cromulent".
- delsarto 4y agoI am dating myself but I'm old enough to have watched the Simpsons episode where this word was invented in its first airing. Maybe it is a word now, I mean it's no more or less ridiculous than other words, which somebody just made up at some point too. https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/what-does-cromulent-mean https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/what-does-crom...
- dotancohen 4y agoYou're embiggening my perception of you.