Flat Tires

[Barb-SAN]

Last weekend I flew to Oakland, and we had a 40 min. delay before leaving SAN due to one flat tire, and another one low on air. Both were changed while we waited at the gate. As we were already boarded, I was unable to watch how they changed the tires. I was imagining the plane being "jacked up" like a car :rolleyes: ;) , but I didn't feel any change in position of the plane. There must be some way that they take the weight off that side though, enough so that they can remove the tire. Have you watched this being done, Capt. Hutch? Can you fill us in on the details? ;)

I was also wondering what happens when the plane lands on a flat tire? Is there any way that you know a tire is flat from the cockpit? (I was surprised to learn at a car rental agency that newer cars have sensors in the tires that provide a display to the driver if they go flat.)

In any case, I'm glad that the flat tires were discovered and changed, and I amused myself during the delay by taking pictures out the window of the planes taxiing, and being moved around by tugs near the gates.

[Captain Hutch]

Hi Barb-SAN,

Well actually I can’t remember having seen maintenance changing the tires on the aircraft, though I am sure they jack it up a little. Actually I am not sure if my airline leaves the pax on the airplane or not while they are doing it, and then it might depend on whether it is the nose gear or main gear. I will have to check on this for you. And no, we don’t have any indicator in the cockpit on whether a tire is low on air, like I do in my brand new hybrid SUV, which I love.

It would be hard to tell if you had a flat on landing since there are two tires for each main gear and the nose gear too. You would probably feel it down at low speeds, but maybe not much if the tire wasn’t damaged.

I’ve included a picture of my bud in an A-10 that I took back in the early 80’s when my guard unit was deployed to Hawaii. There was a gunnery range on the big island between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa where there were extensive lava beds. Notice on the A-10 that even when the gear is up part of the tire is still exposed. Of course then this became the butt of many jokes early in the A-10’s career but really wasn’t a problem in reality. That is, the top speed wasn’t affected too much because we didn’t fly that fast anyway. It was kind of hard taking the picture as I recall because I was maneuvering the stick with my left hand and holding the camera with my right hand, and yes we weren’t supposed to carry cameras.


Hutch

[Barb-SAN]

It was kind of hard taking the picture as I recall because I was maneuvering the stick with my left hand and holding the camera with my right hand, and yes we weren’t supposed to carry cameras.
Hutch

Hmmm...that is some impressive camera work, then. I'm thinking...were you also looking through the viewfinder as you took the picture, or did you just point the camera in the direction of the plane?? ;) I'm assuming you were flying solo....:cool: .

I've taken lots of aerial photos during my Cessna lessons...but always hand the controls over to my instructor first. I'm still at the stage where I can't do too many things simultaneously...and there's little that's automatic about flying for me yet. So, I appreciate the skill required to take a photo like yours while flying..and maintaining the appropriate separation from the other plane too.

[Captain Hutch]

well I wouldn't recommend doing too much camera work while you are flying. Years ago a pilot in an A-7 (single seat fighter/attack aircraft) was joining up with another A-7. The pilot performing the rejoin was actually looking through the viewfinder of a movie camera as he closed on his leader. Unfortunately the view through the lens made him think he was further away from the other A-7 than he really was and he collided with him. They were able to determine this after examining the wreckage of (both, I believe) aircraft. I believe the pilot of the lead aircraft bailed out successfully but the other pilot was killed in the collision.

So with that caveat, I was extremely careful while I did that and I was in constant communication with my friend in the other A-10. Yes, I was flying solo (I am not sure if they ever made a 2 seat version of the A-10) and I was using a 35mmSLR with automatic focus.

Hutch :magic:

[Barb-SAN]

Well, at least you had automatic focus!!!

Wow...sorry to hear about that accident. Yes, I can imagine that it could be misleading to try to judge distance through a camera viewfinder...especially if you were using a wideangle lens. Traveling through the air at those speeds, in formation....don't suppose you have much room for error either. :(

[tusphotog]

[QUOTE=Captain Hutch;73646]
[FONT=Calibri]I’ve included a picture of my bud in an A-10 that I took back in the early 80’s when my guard unit was deployed to Hawaii.

That is one ugly airplane. :lol:

Barb:

They do jack the airplane up. You're only going up a foot or so, just like your car, so you probably wouldn't notice it. I've never noticed it. I just dread the announcement from the Capt: "our tire's flat and we don't have any extra."

There's a photo or video somewhere that I've seen, but I can't find it right now.

[Captain Hutch]

Yes that is one ugly airplane!! But an awesome machine!

Believe it or not a couple of days ago we had a tire change, on the outside tire of the right main gear, and maintenance did it while the pax were on the plane. It was not even noticeable, the jack raising the tire off the ground maybe an inch!

Hutch :)

[Barb-SAN]

Thanks, Capt. Hutch. I suppose an inch is enough, eh, to allow the tire to be removed. Any chance you took a picture of the process with your cell phone? ;) That's ironic that would happen right after we discussed it here! It's the first time I've been on a plane delayed for a tire change, and I've never seen it when watching the planes out the window at the gate. Maybe there's a tire-changing photo in Google Images, or JetPhotos.net (somewhere in the 900,000+ photos...!:D).

[Captain Hutch]

Unfortunately it was at night :( and the guys were doing it with flashlights (one strapped to a headband). The jack was hardly noticeable, just a little hydraulic thing stuck underneath the gear structure between the two tires. If you weren't looking directly at it you might not have noticed. I'd say the whole process took about 20-25 minutes. I'll keep a lookout for a day time change.

Hutch :)

[Barb-SAN]

The jack was hardly noticeable, just a little hydraulic thing stuck underneath the gear structure between the two tires. Hutch :)


That's amazing that it could lift so much weight then.....:eek:

[tusphotog]

Believe it or not a couple of days ago we had a tire change, on the outside tire of the right main gear, and maintenance did it while the pax were on the plane. It was not even noticeable, the jack raising the tire off the ground maybe an inch!

Hutch :)

We cursed you. :D