Re: Gap on a321 Flap

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emnunez
Topic Author
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Jun 18, 2017 4:00 pm

Gap on a321 Flap

Sun Jun 18, 2017 4:17 pm

Hi Everyone,

I have a question about the flap mechanism of the a321. A couple of days ago I was traveling from PLS-JFK on a B6 a321. As we were landing and the flaps were deployed I noticed a gap between with flap and the rest of the wing. Is this normal? I'm sure it is and we probably wouldn't be flying if it wasn't, but I am curious. I've included a photo.

Image

Thanks for your help,
M
Last edited by emnunez on Sun Jun 18, 2017 4:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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doug_or
Posts: 3252
Joined: Sat Mar 18, 2000 9:55 am

Re: Gap on a321 Flap

Sun Jun 18, 2017 4:40 pm

Yes. Gaps are characteristic of fowler and slotted flaps used on most 100+ seat airliners.
Last edited by doug_or on Sun Jun 18, 2017 4:45 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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User avatar
Balerit
Posts: 626
Joined: Sun Aug 23, 2015 9:14 am

Re: Re: Gap on a321 Flap

Sun Jun 18, 2017 5:23 pm

The gap you are looking at is due to the flap having moved rearward and you are looking at it from side, the actual gap is the thin one to the left of your red circle, between the flap leading edge and upper wing surface.
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AA737-823
Posts: 5697
Joined: Wed Mar 01, 2000 11:10 am

Re: Re: Gap on a321 Flap

Mon Jun 19, 2017 7:24 am

The gap on that end is normal for the A321.
The 737 has a roller at the outboard edge, so on that aircraft, you'd see some sort of "connection."
But the A321 flap is not attached to the wing in the same manner.
Of note, there's not really any way for a flap to move in an incorrect manner. They do sometimes get stuck, of course. But the onboard computers (on a 737, it's the FSEU, Flap Slat Electronic Unit, on an A32X, I don't know which black box does it) monitors skew and asymmetry, and will lock the flaps in position if any abnormality is detected.
Anyhow, that exception aside, flaps can really only do one thing, due to the nature of their mechanism.
Hope that helps shed some light!
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