Are the MLG doors typically closed when the Jag is on the ground?? About 50% of the pics I see show the big doors (forward of the gear) open and 50% closed. Just curious you know

Hmm once again Mike, I have an answer for ye

Almost ALL of the pics I have/have seen show the doors open...so IMHO, I would say that would be the way to go.

Cheers,

AWan

The normal retraction/extension sequence closes the main doors once the legs are down, therefore, the normal position is closed.

However, the usual sequence of events once the A/C has taxied in and parked is that the ground crew manually open the doors so that servicing can be carried out. Whether they are then manually closed again varies dependent on when the aircraft is expected to fly again.
Apparently in Oman, the doors are always left open.

If it were me, I would do the bays as if they were to be built as open, but I would make sure the doors fitted well enough to enable closed doors too.

Jen.

Well cool!! That helps me a lot! And it may help others here too

Sounds great Mike!!!!!!

I'll try to answer your PM later tonight when I'm at work

The doors are left open, the jet has its doors open on the ground in RAF service the doors are closed on the ground for display reasons in normal opperational duties they are open, they are closed on the see off of the jet the liney does his walk about the jet once started then removes the power lead from the jet and the main undercarrage switch is pressed this closes the doors prior to taxi, in a nut shell, on return of the jet the doors should be closed (incase of an u/c failure and the jockey has blown down the u/c they remain open) the liney marshals the jet in stops the jet does a tire inspection and brake inspection then opens the pannel on the port side containing the main u/c switch presses the switch places a ground safety pin in the doors open, he then marshals the jet forward anothe foot or so stops the jet then shutdown, thats the normal procedure day in day out.
If the doors are to be closed for dispaly a/c was etc the manual way to open or close them is to turn the battery on flick the main u/c switch to open or closed then get the Hydraulic pump handle and pump the number 1 hyd system this is done under the number 1 engine port side just behind the air intake scoop there is a slot and inside that is the male end for the fitting of the hyd pump handle, pump until open/closed.
So in normal opperation they are allways open.

Look at my banner if you look down the side of the jets the doors are open.

Arrrghhh...I hate you!

Now I have to open that door...More scratchbuilding

Jen and Wardy,

Thanks for your explanations of what happens and why the doors can be in different positions as we see them in photos. This really helps me a lot, but as mentioned above, oh the scratchbuilding!

Cheers,

Andrew.

scratchbuilding will soon not be necessary

Just to confirm that. When the aircraft taxied into the HAS the doors were usually opened by the groundcrew before the engines were shut down. They would be closed again by the groundcrew after the engines were started for the next sortie prior to the aircraft taxiing out again.