Airliners.net picture

While browsing the famous www.airliners.net site I found a picture, claimed to be portrait of a Korean Air 747-4B5. However, as you can see in the picture below, it has some minor flaws. First of all, the plane in the picture seems to have top-mounted wings. Most of us remember the 747 for it's low-mounted wings. Secondly if we look at the top-fuselage, we can see that the plane wing "suddenly" disappears and is cut off. Very strange don't you think? And thirdly, the top of the plane, better seen in the second picture, is very "un-straight". Sorry for my poor english but the wing doesn't go straight. First it's bent upwards and then downwards. I believe my zoomed picture describe what I mean better.

Am I totally wrong when I claim that this plane is not a 747, or is there something here I'am missing?



Zoomed version of top fuselage

I disagree. If you follow the line of the wing's leading edge, you'll find it connects to the two small points of reflection, which I believe, is where the wing actually meets the fuselage.

Trick of light, says me.
Cuhail

It's just a newer variant with different, more effecient wings.

Originally posted by Cuhail
Trick of light, says me.

Ditto. The effect looks weird, but it's also present on on the other side of the sunlight. It's weird-looking, but the distortion is pretty consistent so I have to stick with Cuhail on this one.

Originally posted by GT100FV
It's just a newer variant with different, more effecient wings.

And what variant would that be?

Shattered OUT...

Its just distortion caused by the setting (or rising) sun being directl;y behind the aircraft. The point near the top of the fuselage where the wing appears to suddenly end is actually the inboard engine on that wing, not the root. Definitely a 747-400, no question.

Originally posted by ShatteredSkies

Originally posted by GT100FV
It's just a newer variant with different, more effecient wings.

And what variant would that be?

Shattered OUT...

www.airliners.net...

The discontinuity is probably a leading edge slat junction.

As already pointed out - you can see the lights at the LE root of the wing.

[edit on 30/12/06 by kilcoo316]

GT100FV, the 747-400 is not a new variant, it has been around for well over a decade, when you said "new variant" I thought you meant something in the past few years.

Shattered OUT...

I found this post by anon_87636.

Originally posted by anon_87636

This anonymous post is in response to ATS thread: Airliners.net picture

Guys, this is obviously a C-5

I doubt it's a C-5 for three reasons. One, the horizontal tail in the airliners.net picture is attached to the lower tail. The C-5 has it's horizontal tail attached in the upper area. Two, the C-5 doesn't have similar (upbent) wingtips as the 747-400. Thirdly, the nose of the plane looks nothing like one from a C-5.

I suppose I have to give in then. It is a 747-400, manipulated with a little sunlight. Still, I don't understand how the sun could fool one to believe that the wings are top and not low-mounted. To me the wings look defenetly like they are attached to the upper fuselage. However, as you said, it is propably just the sun

[edit on 31-12-2006 by Figher Master FIN]

I disagree with the OP, I don't think the wings look like they are top-mounted.

Also I think the gap on the wing could be light bleeding in the camera, this sometimes happens in high contrast situations.

Still, I don't understand how the sun could fool one to believe that the wings are top and not low-mounted. To me the wings look defenetly like they are attached to the upper fuselage.

FIN, here is another picture taken from a very similar angle which may explain what you are looking at. The area where you think the wing ends is in fact the engine as I said earlier (you should listen to your mentor ). The way the fuselage line looks wrong is just the glow from the sun.



Bear in mind also that if the wing was joined to the fuselage where you think it is not only would it be much too far aft but it also wouldn't line up with the wing on the other side, which would not be a good idea.

[edit on 31-12-2006 by waynos]

Yes, now that you showed me that picture I understand. Those lights give it away Good job mentor

Originally posted by Hellmutt
I found this post by anon_87636.

Originally posted by anon_87636

This anonymous post is in response to ATS thread: Airliners.net picture

Guys, this is obviously a C-5

A guy that obviously doesn't know his C-5s from his 747s. Anyone that is even remotely familiar with C-5s would recognize that the aircraft in the picture does not have the C-5's T-tail (horizontal stabilizer mounted at the top pf the vertical stabilizer).



Another know-it-all that really doesn't.

[edit on 083131p://000 by Casino2112]

[edit on 083131p://000 by Casino2112]

Originally posted by waynos

Still, I don't understand how the sun could fool one to believe that the wings are top and not low-mounted. To me the wings look defenetly like they are attached to the upper fuselage.

FIN, here is another picture taken from a very similar angle which may explain what you are looking at. The area where you think the wing ends is in fact the engine as I said earlier (you should listen to your mentor

). The way the fuselage line looks wrong is just the glow from the sun.


Bear in mind also that if the wing was joined to the fuselage where you think it is not only would it be much too far aft but it also wouldn't line up with the wing on the other side, which would not be a good idea.

[edit on 31-12-2006 by waynos]

damn you got to itbefore it did