Whats this on the nosewheel on the DC-9

[newmei]

What the cover looking think on the nose wheel of like a DC-9/MD-80/88???? Looks like some sorta mud gaurd but what is it really for?

Thanks!

 

[trainerjet]

It's a "spray deflector" to help keep runway contaminants from being sprayed by the nose tire into the engines.

 

[newmei]

Really? Cool you would'nt think that'd be a problem with the engines all the way back on the tail.

 

[FearlessFreep]

If you check carefully you will see a lot of jet aircraft that have aft mounted engines will have "chines" on the outboard edges of the nose wheel tires. These serve the same purpose.

On a similar note if you are up in Anchorage try to get a look at some of the 737-200's that Alaska Airlines operates into the 'bush (un-improved and un-paved runways). They have gravel kits that are pretty different looking. Mostly these are nose gear gravel deflectors and FOD bleed air tubes attached to the engines. Looks pretty different.

 

[trainerjet]

I have flown the gravel-kit -200s. The nose gear "ski" is quite a bit larger on this aircraft than the spray deflector on the MD-80s. The "bleed air tubes" on the engines are "vortex dissipaters" that blow bleed air forward to disrput the vortex that the engine intakes generate which could suck up gravel, etc.

 

[JJJ]

If you check carefully you will see a lot of jet aircraft that have aft mounted engines will have "chines" on the outboard edges of the nose wheel tires. These serve the same purpose

If I had a buck for every time that I've heard a pax get on and say something about the "flat nose tires"....

 

[340drvr]

First time I saw one on an MD-80, I thought it was some kind of tow bar piece, even embarassed myself to call ground and tell them, doh!