777-200 panel above passenger door
Posted by Tough_Trouble_1139@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 18 comments
Anyone know what this panel is above door 3L on a 777-200? Too thin to be an antenna, not enough fasteners to be a doubler
trialex@reddit
Why do you say too thin to be an antenna?
Tough_Trouble_1139@reddit (OP)
Because I've never seen an antenna that thin. But! A friend just confirmed this is in fact a satcom antenna. Mystery solved. Also seems weird to me it's offset from the center of the crown.
B100West@reddit
Yeah. That's not an Antenna
www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/4u11z5/boeing_777_antenna_locations/
That's a repair from the gateway smacking into the side of the aircraft
Tough_Trouble_1139@reddit (OP)
I did some googling before I created this post and saw that graphic. That graphic initially convinced me this wasn't an antenna which led me to create the post. But it's a generic graphic and doesn't show all customer options.
Reasons it's not a doubler: It's about 0.25 inches thick (or thicker). 777 skin thicknesses are typically .060 to .100. A doubler is typically no more than one gauge thicker than the skin it's repairing. If a doubler is too thick it creates a hard point and draws extra load. It's simply too thick to be a doubler.
The fasteners are spaced too far apart to be a load transfer joint. Probably more than 2 inches? Load transfer joints have a typical fastener pitch of 5 times fastener diameter. Or 0.95 inches for a .190 fastener.
This antenna is attached with a single row of fasteners all the way around (26 in total). Doublers are typically attached with three rows of fasteners. Multiple rows of fasteners spread out the load transfer and have better fatigue performance.
I've seen dozens of doublers and even designed one. This is simply NOT a doubler.
Finally, the friend that confirmed this for me has access to the Boeing drawing system. He said the part is named "satcom" under the part description.
B100West@reddit
It may be part of the system. But you won’t have an satellite antenna 1/3 of the way down the side of the aircraft
Tough_Trouble_1139@reddit (OP)
If it's part of the satcom system and not an antenna idk why it would be mounted on the exterior of the skin.
Did you see the post u/lalab0y replied with?
lalab0y@reddit
You've done your homework. That does look like a side mounted satcom antenna. Ive seen them on 767. Here's an old post:
https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/s/hVHm4rhEB4
trialex@reddit
There will be another one the same on the other side so that it has better coverage of the sky.
Punkrawk78@reddit
Well done. 😂
Tough_Trouble_1139@reddit (OP)
Oh interesting. Makes sense
DeathCabForYeezus@reddit
It's a repair doubler, and the critical row is every-other fastener to reduce load transfer and improve the damage tolerance of the repair.
Tough_Trouble_1139@reddit (OP)
There's only one row of fasteners
flightwatcher45@reddit
Are those fasteners? There is no edge margin? It must be an antenna.
Express-Way9295@reddit
Looks like a double repair, not a door.
flightwatcher45@reddit
Doubler or even tripler if there's on inside too. Ouchie.
Tough_Trouble_1139@reddit (OP)
Because I've never seen an antenna that thin. But! A friend just confirmed this is in fact a satcom antenna. Mystery solved. Also seems weird to me it's offset from the center of the crown.
cheesesteak_genocide@reddit
Someone made an oppsie and that is the permanent band-aid on the boo boo
Gabriel_Owners@reddit
It's just a repair doubler.