JFK: 6/18 Afternoon.

[AirtrafficController]

Center main landing gear.

That's right. Do you know why?

Is it beacuse its optional ? I know the A330 has an option for a center main landing gear

[Futterman]

Center main landing gear.

That's right. Do you know why?

Is it beacuse its optional ? I know the A330 has an option for a center main landing gear

No. The only DC-10 without the CMLG is the -10 variant. ATA's '10 is a -30.

The thing was designed to support more weight on the -30 and -40 models, and can actually be extended or retracted independent of the outboard landing gear. Doing this comes with all the typical operational and mechanical benefits, so I'd put my money on the possibility that the plane was light enough to keep the center gear stowed. Or it was broken.

Brian

PS - ATA. DC-10. LGA. Ever?

[PhilDernerJr]

Yes, the center gear was made retractable on it for airports like LGA....as three bogeys put too much impact weight ont he runways. However, by retracting the center one, the max allowed weight decreases.

NYCMedic taught mt this last night. I can't take credit.

Becuase of that, an ATA DC-10 is conceivable.Some freakish sub could happen, but I think that most peopel woudl assume that the DC-10 isn't a good plane to bring into LGA and would not bring it in.

[moose135]

Becuase of that, an ATA DC-10 is conceivable.Some freakish sub could happen, but I think that most peopel woudl assume that the DC-10 isn't a good plane to bring into LGA and would not bring it in.

But it certainly wouldn't be the first time a DC-10 showed up at LGA, and I'm sure with a little notice, the entire NYCA spotting community would be out to catch her!

[PhilDernerJr]

Oh, of course. The heavy three-holer at LGA would draw quite a crowd.

[Futterman]

Yes, the center gear was made retractable on it for airports like LGA....as three bogeys put too much impact weight ont he runways. However, by retracting the center one, the max allowed weight decreases.

Without thinking too much, that doesn't sound right to me. I'm under the impression that the additional bogey would be good for LaGuardia, since it would serve to distribute the weight over a larger area.

Then again, I suppose having the center gear acts more to serve the airplane than the runway. Thinking back to the Eastern A300s, I remember hearing that they were pulled from LGA service because the narrow wheel-base put too much weight over too small an area. So perhaps with three bogeys down, the wheel base on the DC-10 would be narrower than if it only extended the two. Whatever.

Brian

[PhilDernerJr]

I thought the same thign, Brian.

Teh extra bogey allow the PLANE to carry more weight, not to redistribute weight among the runway.

By removing that bogey, you do not therefore add more weight to the remaining ones, as the allowed load is lighter anyway....it doesn't add more weight to the remaining bogeys.

[NYCMedic]

Oh, of course. The heavy three-holer at LGA would draw quite a crowd.

Speaking of a Heavy three holer, somebody E-Mailed me this video once..... Oh wait Phil was referring to the DC-10 Sorry! Anyway, Phil is correct, the main body gear can be locked up for landings at smaller airports like LGA but of course there is a penalty with the allowable load. Considering most flights into LGA are fairly short haul you don't need to worry about an aircraft being laden with fuel, bags, and cargo. Phil you need to get on up into Ops-Con and leave those ramp rats behind.

[nwafan20]

Interesting, is ATA going to leave the NW base paint (silver) on there? It looks nice actually.