SurClaro Flight Simulator Resources

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2005 10:39 pm Post subject: cost saving proposition

I was thinking...

When planes land, their tires lose some rubber from the impact on the runway. I have a proposition!!
If planes were to land with their tires already spinning, wouldn't that minimize the amount rubber lost, thus extending the life of the tire and saving money for the airline?
What do you think?

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2005 11:08 pm Post subject:

Sometimes the tires are spinning before they hit the ground. Either way, it won't reduce the wear and tear on them.

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2005 11:16 pm Post subject:

Having the wheels stopped at the point of touchdown actually helps to slow the plane down a tiny bit.

As for the equipment needed to make the wheels spin, installing it on an aircraft would add useless weight to save a "wear out" part like tires. it would be pointless. The cost of the design, and installation, plus mantenence and operating costs would eat up any money saved on tire changes.

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2005 11:20 pm Post subject:

In partial defense of your idea Lorti, I know that there have been studies about reducing the wear and tear on A/C tires and the thoery that if the brakes were applied as the wheels were touching down, it would take a lot of rubber off of the tire. One solution was (as you stated) to have the tires spinning at the same speed as the A/C at the moment of impact.

Honestly, traveling as fast as they are and weighing as much as they do, and considering how much money A/C tire manufacturers make from the constant need to replace the tires, I doubt you'll see any manufacturers rushing to find a way to make a longer lasting tire.

Heck, why don't we have tires on our cars that last the life of the vehicle?

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 1:03 am Post subject: Hold your breath........

They are working on it. The tire manufacturers are taking another stab at synthetic tires.

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 3:54 am Post subject:

are synthetic tires like plastic? what does synthetic mean?

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 3:57 am Post subject:

also, if the tires are already spinning at the realtive landing speed, then when you touch down, you should just roll with little or no rubber lost. then you can apply the brakes and stop.

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 4:07 am Post subject:

Synthetic means it is made with chemicals instead of natural resources to resemble a natural product.

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 5:56 am Post subject:

The main concern when landing a heavy jet is getting it on the runway and stopping before the end. Not worrying about smoking the tires. Tires are replaceable. And alot cheaper than a written off aircraft and dead or suing passengers.

When youre in your car you can stop pretty fast... But when you touch down in a 300 ton plane travelling at 180 MPH on 10500 feet of pavement, the end comes up awful fast and every foot counts as does every knot in airspeed/groundspeed thats lost on initial contact with the runway.

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 9:14 pm Post subject:

how about this

the wheel has a windmill thing inside so it spins with the wind.
the windmill is covered by a mesh material (so air can hit the windmill)
the mesh will be covered with lots of suction cups for grip and assistance for braking.
sonds good huh Very Happy

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 9:27 pm Post subject:

But then you wouldn't be able to take cool pictures like this

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 9:39 pm Post subject:

I think that is dust....looks nice, but it is a product of the engines, not the tires....it is too dense and yellowish to be tire smoke.

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 11:49 pm Post subject:

Well not if there was a lot of sulfur in the air that got kicked up.

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:26 am Post subject:

what would cause the engines to do that? And in case ya didn't notice... the color in the photo isn't that great... so if the smoke is a little yellow, that doesn't mean it didn't like white/gray when i took my eye off the camera. But still, curious, if it is engine smoke, what would cause it?

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:49 am Post subject:

engine fire Rolling Eyes

rain

sand

passed gas Wink