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When watching landing videos of 787's that are in service I've been noticing a fan that is located under the right rear section of the fuselage. I've now seen it on 4 different 787's from 4 different airlines.

Is this an emergency fan that's deploying, or is it just something that's designed to recharge some of the batteries on board? Some auxiliary type of system, perhaps?

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    $\begingroup$ do you have a photo? $\endgroup$
    – Keegan
    Dec 10, 2014 at 2:15
  • $\begingroup$ I'll see if can find one, or take a capture from the video. $\endgroup$
    – AllenM
    Dec 10, 2014 at 3:04
  • $\begingroup$ (Going off of the answer below) Maybe it's just used to add more drag? Probably used on the 787 to help charge the batteries while descending... But that's just a guess. Don't take my word for it. $\endgroup$
    – Keegan
    Dec 11, 2014 at 4:40
  • $\begingroup$ Any 787 pilots around here? $\endgroup$
    – Keegan
    Dec 11, 2014 at 4:40

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If you are speaking of the small fan behind the gear in the photo below (click to magnify) 787 RAT

Image from here.

you are speaking of a Ram Air Turbine, usually used in an emergency, not in normal operations.

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    $\begingroup$ Note that the above photo is taken in Settle at Boeing Field (As can be seen from the distinctive hangar in the background), indicating a test flight: the majority of the videos you see will be at the same airport, as most airlines do a few test flights with Boeing on their first delivered aircraft. Plane-spotters will often hang out here to get videos/photos of the new planes on their test flights, so you'll see an unusual number of videos of test flights (plus it's easier to get close to the runway here than at many other airports). $\endgroup$
    – Jon Story
    Dec 10, 2014 at 10:53
  • $\begingroup$ Why would it be used in so many landings? Is that a standard test flight landing procedure? $\endgroup$
    – Xen2050
    Dec 10, 2014 at 13:12
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    $\begingroup$ @Xen2050 they need to test the RAT itsefl to see there are no chewed on cables that may bring the thing down. $\endgroup$
    – ratchet freak
    Dec 10, 2014 at 14:15
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    $\begingroup$ @Xen2050 - it isn't necessarily being used in the landing. Once the RAT has been extended on a 787, it can't be retracted again in flight. Many test flights will test the RAT, or it will be extended as a precaution during other tests. I'm unsure whether it's standard procedure to keep it extended on test flights, but it would make some sense: the nature of testing means it's nice to have backups :) $\endgroup$
    – Jon Story
    Dec 17, 2014 at 19:06
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    $\begingroup$ I'm late to the party, but @JonStory - that's Paine Field (KPAE) in Everett, WA, where Boeing manufactures the 787. $\endgroup$
    – egid
    Nov 17, 2016 at 20:17

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