Question for TGrayson, or anyone else, KLM 747

jwp_145

jwp_145

GhostRider in the Sky
Hey Tgrayson, or anyone else who could fashion an answer to this question...

On the photo which I'm going to attempt to attach below this question, there is a KLM 747-400, but this could basically apply to any airliner that has pod-mounted wings under the engine.

The junction point of the engine pylon and the wing does not have a smooth interface, as in the pylon does not join smoothly and flush-ly to the top of the wing camber... rather, it seems as though the pylon always meets the leading edge of the wing about halfway down which leaves a large "bump". One woul think that it would create less drag to have the pylon blend smoothly into the curvature of the upper portion of the leading edge as it transitions aft.

Why do you folks, hopefully tgrayson, suppose this is?


1521929.jpg
 
Is anyone else trying to find eye candy on the beach instead of looking at the airplane?
 
Didn't tgrayson take his ball and go home a few months ago? Or is he back now?
 
You guys need better hobbies. I can barely pick my airplane out of a lineup from a distance. :)
 
I was wondering how anooying it would be in that hotel to constantly hear planes coming in?

But I am old and cranky these days :(
 
jwp_145 said:
Hey Tgrayson, or anyone else who could fashion an answer to this question...

On the photo which I'm going to attempt to attach below this question, there is a KLM 747-400, but this could basically apply to any airliner that has pod-mounted wings under the engine.

The junction point of the engine pylon and the wing does not have a smooth interface, as in the pylon does not join smoothly and flush-ly to the top of the wing camber... rather, it seems as though the pylon always meets the leading edge of the wing about halfway down which leaves a large "bump". One woul think that it would create less drag to have the pylon blend smoothly into the curvature of the upper portion of the leading edge as it transitions aft.

Why do you folks, hopefully tgrayson, suppose this is?


1521929.jpg
Click to expand...

It's pretty simple actually...it's where the flux capacitors are installed.

I would imagine that with the slats retracted it's a better air flow that what you see in this picture.
 
jwp_145 said:
?.. but this could basically apply to any airliner that has pod-mounted wings under the engine. /QUOTE]

I've never flown anything that had pod-mounted wings underneath the engines. I don't know that an airfoil would be that useful stuffed into a pod. I've been wrong before...a lot.
Click to expand...
 
Even the engine pylons on the -8's are attached in a similar fashion; I'm just guessing but I'd imagine that one of the goals of this part's design is to minimize its interaction with airflow over thew wing's leading edge and upper surface. Creating some kind of extended airfoil on the pylon's upper surface might have more negative consequences than positive (early air flow separation?).

Also keep in mind that the wings and engines on this airplane flex a surpsingly large amount during different phases of flight and turbulence, and it's not uncommon to see engine pods noticeably bouncing around out there. You probably want as much flexibility as possible in the structures. Attaching something to the leading edge of the wing like that doesn't seem too beneficial in that respect.

Overall though you'd need to ask an engineer (or tgrayson) to get a real answer, these are just guesses from the truck driver.

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13 replies of crap.

Now that you mention it, I haven't seen any post by tgrayson around here in a while... why did he take his ball and leave? I always enjoyed reading his stuff.
 
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