B777 question

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03-21-2011, 07:44 PM
JDANDO

B777 question

While looking at my photos here in CYUL I noticed a "strange" feature on the an Air Canada B777. What is the thing with a shock absorber looking device on the underside of the tail? I am guessing something to protect the plane in a minor tail strike?

Thanks in advance.

http://jeremyd.smugmug.com/Airplanes...7_W9LMJ-XL.jpg
03-21-2011, 08:05 PM
cancidas

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDANDO

While looking at my photos here in CYUL I noticed a "strange" feature on the an Air Canada B777. What is the thing with a shock absorber looking device on the underside of the tail? I am guessing something to protect the plane in a minor tail strike?

Thanks in advance.

http://jeremyd.smugmug.com/Airplanes...7_W9LMJ-XL.jpg

you are correct. boeing's airplanes don't prevent the pilot from rotating too far the way an airbus does. it's possible to sit on on it's tail if you rotate too far.
03-22-2011, 12:29 PM
Speedbagel_001

Brings back memories of Concorde's tail wheels, only without wheels.
03-23-2011, 01:57 PM
kc2aqg

The technical term for it is a "tail skid". You are correct, it is used as a sort of shock absorber in the event of a tail strike. The 767 has it also, I have seen it up close and personal on several of DL's 767-300ERs.