The center fuselage includes which components?

• A. Main landing gear, intake ducts, external stores stations, fuselage fuel tanks and AMAD
• B. Wing and tailplane components
• C. Nose landing gear, radome
• D. Aft fuselage engine only

Answer: (A)

The center fuselage is the mid-body backbone that carries the systems needed to keep the aircraft operational and ready to carry loads. The main landing gear is housed there to provide sturdy support and retraction into the fuselage during takeoff and landing. The intake ducts run through this area to feed air to both engines, making the center fuselage essential for engine air supply. External stores stations are mounted on the center fuselage, allowing centerline and other stores to be attached without interfering with the wings or tail. Fuselage fuel tanks are located in the center section to extend range without adding weight to the wings, and the AMAD, the Airframe Mounted Accessory Drive, is placed in the center fuselage to drive engine accessories like pumps and generators. Together, these components are all part of the center fuselage, whereas wing or tailplane components sit on the wings and tail, the nose gear and radome are in the forward fuselage, and an aft fuselage engine is not confined to the center section.