Md-80 NLG, What is this thing Options

[p3flighteng1]

I have been flying in the Navy for 17 yrs. I recently flew on a MD-80, 83, super 80, whatever. Looked like a DC-9. There was a black " thing " behind the NLG. What is that? Has been bugging me. Thanks. FE

[rjb4000]

Mud-flap?

[AirRabbit]

I have been flying in the Navy for 17 yrs. I recently flew on a MD-80, 83, super 80, whatever. Looked like a DC-9. There was a black " thing " behind the NLG. What is that? Has been bugging me. Thanks. FE

Kinda hard to comment on "a black thing behind the NLG;" but, if it looked something like a “shelf,” a little wider than the nose gear tire assembly and about 70% that deep, I would suspect it is a spray deflector – used to direct standing water, snow, slush, etc. on the runway out, up, and over the leading edge of the wings and away from the engine intakes. Most of the time this can be successfully accomplished with what are called "chine" tires; but when the depth of the runway contaminants gets relatively deep, a spray deflector normally handles the situation quite nicely.

[p3flighteng1]

Mud-flap?

Guess I deserve that!! Seriously, it looks like a black tire chock behind the nose tires and I have not noticed that on any plane before. Little help ty FE

[trijetflyermd11]

Well , here is a different plane but same idea. Not too long ago I saw this interesting version of a B737. It was modified to enable the B737-200 operation on contaminated surfaces.
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0311715/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0243791/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0932624/L/

[glnflwrs]

It is exactly what AirRabbit described. It is a spray deflector/gravel shield.

This equipment is installed for customers operating out of airfields with less than ideal runway surfaces.

[SF3aviatrix]

The Boeing Unpaved Strip Kit

[glnflwrs]

Thanks for the supporting link, Trix.

[Aspiring Boeing ...]

The Boeing Unpaved Strip Kit

Yep. thats the thing. it was tested on a 737 - 200 (obviousely) testbed in the andes mountains to see what it could stand up to and weather it even did the job it was supposed to do.

[p3flighteng1]

The Boeing Unpaved Strip Kit

Extremely interesting Thanks FE

[AirRabbit]

Actually, there is a difference between the “gravel deflector” (shown in photos above in this thread) and the “spray deflector.” The “gravel deflector” is usually a lot more sturdy and extends quite a distance aft of the nose gear tires. The “spray deflector” is usually somewhat to a lot smaller. Of course, the gravel deflector does divert water, slush, snow, etc. in addition to stones and small rocks, but its primary purpose is the heavier forms of “FOD.” Here are some examples of a spray deflector – sorry, I couldn’t find a picture of a chine tire, however, it does essentially the same thing. The tire itself has a protruding lip that looks something like the deflector in the last picture below, except that it is built into the tire sidewall (outboard) and runs the circumference of the tire.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1147475/L/

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0077...&sok=&photo_nr=

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=54998

[p3flighteng1]

Actually, there is a difference between the “gravel deflector” (shown in photos above in this thread) and the “spray deflector.” The “gravel deflector” is usually a lot more sturdy and extends quite a distance aft of the nose gear tires. The “spray deflector” is usually somewhat to a lot smaller. Of course, the gravel deflector does divert water, slush, snow, etc. in addition to stones and small rocks, but its primary purpose is the heavier forms of “FOD.” Here are some examples of a spray deflector – sorry, I couldn’t find a picture of a chine tire, however, it does essentially the same thing. The tire itself has a protruding lip that looks something like the deflector in the last picture below, except that it is built into the tire sidewall (outboard) and runs the circumference of the tire.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1147475/L/

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0077...&sok=&photo_nr=

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=54998

EXACTLY what I saw Thak you for the info and photos FE

[Fluffdoc]

727s use chined tires to accomplish the same thing. Much lighter and you don't run the risk of the deflector getting jammed up in the nose wheel well as have happened on MD-80s.

I've worked on several 737s with gravel runway kits. One of the biggest pains in my opinion is that if you are working in the electronics compartment the deflector is right where you want to stand. An there is a big NO STEP warning on it. You sort of have to stand there with your legs spread like you were riding a horse.