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I wonder why fire extinguishers aren't installed at the wheels.
This shows they are really not needed, and they add more weight, more complexity, more cost. If designers added every single thing that might be a good idea, the plane might not be able to fly.
Love how hot the brakes get during that deceleration! I know that I was always leery during the post flight walk around after landing on a short runway. The brakes were HOT, and I can only imagine that amount of heat generated by an 747 at a max weight, max speed aborted takeoff.
The brakes also continue to heat up even after the deceleration event is over. It can sometimes take 15-20 minutes for them to reach their temperature.
That's why, when on an ARFF crew, we'll usually have at least one truck standby with the aircraft for about a half hour in an event like this.
Extinguishers might push "pause" on the fire for a couple of seconds, but won't do anything to solve the problem, which is dissipating the heat that is responsible for starting it in the first place.
Boeing's 747-8 ARFF information states:
Quote:
WHEEL FIRE
Apply large amounts of water initially with turrets. Transition to handline application to continue and
maintain a cooling effect
Extinguishers might push "pause" on the fire for a couple of seconds, but won't do anything to solve the problem, which is dissipating the heat that is responsible for starting it in the first place.
Boeing's 747-8 ARFF information states:
Yeah a standard extinguisher will put out a fire, but isn't going to actually cool it down, which is what you really want to do. Large amounts of water applied continuously will help accomplish that.
Also with a tire fire/hot brakes, if we get out of the truck, it's important to approach from either the front or rear of the wheel, and not from the side. If the tire explodes, there is the potential for shrapnel.
Yeah a standard extinguisher will put out a fire, but isn't going to actually cool it down, which is what you really want to do. Large amounts of water applied continuously will help accomplish that.
Also with a tire fire/hot brakes, if we get out of the truck, it's important to approach from either the front or rear of the wheel, and not from the side. If the tire explodes, there is the potential for shrapnel.
The tires of modern jetliners should automatically deflate in the event of a fire or other malfunction. If not, then be very careful. The thought of the tire exploding is always in the back of my mind when walking around behemoth 777 tires.
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