ABS - or is it Pure BS

From: Computer Room Internet Cafe <netcafe_at_pirie.mtx.net.au>
Date: Mon Apr 5 22:58:46 1999

-----Original Message-----
From: Max Eskin <max82_at_surfree.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu>
Date: Tuesday, 6 April 1999 12:27
Subject: Re: ABS - or is it Pure BS


>On Mon, 5 Apr 1999, Allison J Parent wrote:
>
>>It's so they come to a stop. How else would you bring a 747 at 400,000
>>pounds from 140+knots to 0 in less than 7000 feet!
>
>So, why do you need ABS if you are just landing straight?


So that it doesn't :-

1) Beat the hell out of the tyres any more than necessary. ABS tends to
prolong tyre life by reducing damage that occurs during braking, like flat
spots. Aircraft tyres have a hard life at best (0 to 140kts in 1 sec or
so.)

2)On a slippery (read wet/icy) surface, they extract maximum braking
performance without reducing control. Consider the footprint of a 400,000ib
aircraft in comparison to a large truck. The truck has considerably more
rubber per lb of weight on the surface.
The aircraft needs all the help it can get.

Basically, if all runways were clean, dry and provided max braking at all
times, it's probably possible to live without it, but they aren't like that,
so it's very desirable.

Cheers

Geoff Roberts
VK5KDR
Received on Mon Apr 05 1999 - 22:58:46 BST