A gravel kit is a modification on an aircraft to avoid foreign object debris (FOD) damage or ingestion while operating on unpaved surfaces. Modifications generally include methods of preventing the nose gear spraying FOD into the engine and onto the underside of the fuselage or wings, and methods of preventing each engine from ingesting FOD from the ground directly in front of it.
Examples of planes that can be fitted with this upgrade include the Boeing 737-200, which includes a gravel deflector (similar in appearance to a wide ski) mounted to the nose wheel, and vortex dissipators, using compressor bleed air, in front of each engine.[1] This modification was used by Alaska Airlines for many years, and is still employed by Air Inuit, Canadian North, Air North, Nolinor Aviation in northern Canada. Some Boeing 727s were also fitted with specific gravel kits on the nose wheel, while the rest were fitted with devices in the form of smaller deflectors than those used on the 737, used on all wheels, to deflect FOD away so as to prevent the rear-mounted engines from ingesting FOD from a runway. Another rear-engined aircraft—the McDonnell Douglas DC-9/MD-80/MD-90 and Boeing 717 series—uses deflectors similar to those of the conventionally-equipped 727 on all their aircraft's landing gear to prevent FOD structural damage and ingestion. A gravel kit can be fitted to British Aerospace 146/ Avro RJ85 aircraft.[2]
Canadian North 737-200 engine gravel kit vortex dissipator
Canadian North 737-200 engine gravel kit vortex dissipator in profile view
Gravel kit on a landing Air North 737-200
Gravel kit on a First Air 737-200
Referencesedit
^. THE BOEING 737 TECHNICAL SITE. Archived from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
^Warwick, Graham (14 September 2012). . Aviation Week & Space Technology. Archived from the original on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
External linksedit
External images
A Canadian North Boeing 737 fitted with a gravelkit
A First Air Boeing 737 fitted with a gravelkit
An Alaska Air Boeing 737 fitted with a gravelkit
Media related to Gravelkits at Wikimedia Commons
February 24, 2024
gravel, gravel, modification, aircraft, avoid, foreign, object, debris, damage, ingestion, while, operating, unpaved, surfaces, modifications, generally, include, methods, preventing, nose, gear, spraying, into, engine, onto, underside, fuselage, wings, method. A gravel kit is a modification on an aircraft to avoid foreign object debris FOD damage or ingestion while operating on unpaved surfaces Modifications generally include methods of preventing the nose gear spraying FOD into the engine and onto the underside of the fuselage or wings and methods of preventing each engine from ingesting FOD from the ground directly in front of it Examples of planes that can be fitted with this upgrade include the Boeing 737 200 which includes a gravel deflector similar in appearance to a wide ski mounted to the nose wheel and vortex dissipators using compressor bleed air in front of each engine 1 This modification was used by Alaska Airlines for many years and is still employed by Air Inuit Canadian North Air North Nolinor Aviation in northern Canada Some Boeing 727s were also fitted with specific gravel kits on the nose wheel while the rest were fitted with devices in the form of smaller deflectors than those used on the 737 used on all wheels to deflect FOD away so as to prevent the rear mounted engines from ingesting FOD from a runway Another rear engined aircraft the McDonnell Douglas DC 9 MD 80 MD 90 and Boeing 717 series uses deflectors similar to those of the conventionally equipped 727 on all their aircraft s landing gear to prevent FOD structural damage and ingestion A gravel kit can be fitted to British Aerospace 146 Avro RJ85 aircraft 2 Canadian North 737 200 engine gravel kit vortex dissipator Canadian North 737 200 engine gravel kit vortex dissipator in profile view Gravel kit on a landing Air North 737 200 Gravel kit on a First Air 737 200References edit Unpaved Strip Kit THE BOEING 737 TECHNICAL SITE Archived from the original on 30 August 2019 Retrieved 5 November 2023 Warwick Graham 14 September 2012 Crunching Gravel Down Under Aviation Week amp Space Technology Archived from the original on 8 March 2014 Retrieved 20 September 2012 External links editExternal images nbsp A Canadian North Boeing 737 fitted with a gravelkit nbsp A First Air Boeing 737 fitted with a gravelkit nbsp An Alaska Air Boeing 737 fitted with a gravelkit nbsp Media related to Gravelkits at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gravel kit amp oldid 1190300589, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
