Fuel storage in Tri-Jets.

Captain · Post by **Captain** » 28 Jul 2004, 09:46

Was wondering where the fuel was stored or for the 3rd engine on Tri-Jets?

Is the fuel delivered from the wings of the aircraft back to the 3rd engine? or does the third engine have it's own fuel supply?

Does this vary between different Tri-Jets models?

Captain

744rules · Post by **744rules** » 28 Jul 2004, 11:11

Fuel is supplied from the usual tanks (wingtanks, centertanks or tailtank) No seperate fuel tank for tail-engine

Captain · Post by **Captain** » 28 Jul 2004, 22:36

744rules wrote:Fuel is supplied from the usual tanks (wingtanks, centertanks or tailtank) No seperate fuel tank for tail-engine

Interesting. Isn't that a bit of a security risk in the event of crash?

I saw several documentaries that highligt the fact that in the majority of crash landings people die from fuel igniting and the smoke caused. All the fuel is stored in the centre of the plane and in the wings so it limits this to one area (remember that Air France flight that crashed after take-off and even though tanks ignited no one was killed). So, if I understand correctly there's a pipe going from the tank to the back of the plane. Doesn't that increase changes for the plane to catch on fire if it breaks up during a crash landing?

Another question: why haven't Tri-Jets remained popular as major manufacturers have stopped making them? Has Airbus ever made one or thought about making one?

Captain.

V-Bird · Post by **V-Bird** » 28 Jul 2004, 22:42

The MD-11 had a big tail-tank, the dc-10 ( all series ) don`t.

If you read trainingrapports of pilots ( from dc-10 to md-11 ) they always say that the md-11 fly`s realy different then the dc-10. special during take-off. it comes due the tail-tank

Voyager · Post by **Voyager** » 28 Jul 2004, 23:24

the MD11 eng2 is feeding from the tank nr 2 wich is a big center tank, during initial flight it serves eng2 and in the mean time transferring to the wing engines, after it reaches the same level as the wing tanks, it stops transferring and serves only the tail engine

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » 28 Jul 2004, 23:34

Maybe a little bit off topic but I also have a question about tri-jets. Is it true that once at cruising altitude, the third engine of the 727 was shut down because it was actually unusable?

V-Bird · Post by **V-Bird** » 28 Jul 2004, 23:44

I think not

normaly the third engine is also used for hydraulics generators

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 29 Jul 2004, 20:58

blackhawk wrote:Maybe a little bit off topic but I also have a question about tri-jets. Is it true that once at cruising altitude, the third engine of the 727 was shut down because it was actually unusable?

NO, I don't think so. I've never heard of that before, and it would really surprise me!!!!

But #2 is often shut down on ferry flights.

Greetz
Chris
8)