B-717 thing on nosegear

[Swede]

At least once a month, it seems, someone will panic on the radio when they see the MD80's "split" elevators flopping about on the ground as wind gusts hit them. "OMG, the torque tube between the elevators on that jet has failed!!"

 

[bafanguy]

Good memory. More exactly, they reduce the fuselage vortex that can occur at high AOA. That vortex would impinge on one side of the vertical stabilizer and rudder thus decreasing directional control.

They were first introduced with the stretched DC-9-50 and appear on the MD-80 and MD-90 as well. They do not appear on the DC-9-30, B717, or other shorter versions as the fuselage vortex is not an issue.

TP

TP is right. Before they figured out I was a nobody and cut off my subscription, DC Flight Approach magazine published a good article about the strakes on -80 series. Can't find my original copy so I can't give a date for the issue, but from the copy I had stuffed in my systems manual, the first paragraph says:

"Fuselage strakes have been included in the DC-9-50 and MD80 family of aircraft to improve directional stability of these long-nosed Douglas aircraft when flying in a sideslip at high angles of attack. Nacelle strakes were added to the MD80 to provide additional recovery capability in the event of a deep stall."

" ... strakes generate vortexes that alter the local flow past the vertical tail, providing good directional stability over the greatest range of angles of attack, sideslip, and flap deflection."

Apparently, on the shorter series, the problem was avoided by the rudder limiter ( flap/rudder limiter) alone.

 

[Freddie Spencer]

you are all wrong... it's just a place where airtran pilots can put the six pack while they do the walk around.

 

[walden]

Mr. Spencer has the idea, I believe, that he is funny. He is not. But considering his feeble attempts at self-validation it may be the best course to simply snicker and move on. A person that hangs his ego on the degradation of others has issues.

 

[AA717driver]

walden--LTFU! Freddie's post was intended as humor, not degradation. His avatar is degrading. (Not that there's anything wrong with that!) TC

 

[walden]

AA717,
Whatever 'LTFU' means...I'm sure its a term of endearment.
I just noticed quite a bit of his "intended humor" centered around the same thing; someone else's shortcomings or misfortune. As you say, "not that there's anything wrong with that."
Pax,
walden