727 question

[Daveroo]

this 727 is unremarkable right?....but we see (ok i see) the rear airstair ,the large cargo door,the front cabin door,but what is hanging down under the aircraft between the mains?....looks like an elevator like "Columbine" had for the Pres.......is it?...

[An-225]

Looks to me like the main landing gear doors are opened in the maintenance position.

[ViperPilot2]

this 727 is unremarkable right?....but we see (ok i see) the rear airstair ,the large cargo door,the front cabin door,but what is hanging down under the aircraft between the mains?....looks like an elevator like "Columbine" had for the Pres.......is it?...

Isn't that the APU? It was housed in the Main Landing Gear Bay...

[p3aewguy]

Isn't that the APU? It was housed in the Main Landing Gear Bay...

Nope, main gear doors in the
maintenance position!

[Tom Clayton]

I concur with the main doors. If that airframe is anything like the KC-135's I used to crew, there's a lever near the aft end of the bay that pops the over-center up-lock linkage which allows the doors to drop when there's no hydraulic pressure. The next time the hydraulic pressure is back up, the doors will automatically raise to normal unless ground locks are applied over the struts.

[ViperPilot2]

Nope, main gear doors in the maintenance position!

Now that I've seen a photo of the 727's APU, I was incorrect in saying it was that. From the photo Daveroo provided, it sure looked like there was some sort of 'lift' between the Mains! I mean, I can see the doors (the white curved pieces), and the three vertical 'struts' hanging down from the bottom of the fuselage above the doors must be the hinge mechanism for the doors... OK, I get it!