Posted on 09/21/2005 8:25:21 PM PDT by HighWheeler
After looking carfully at the replays of the JetBlue landing tonight, I noticed during landing that the nosegear flames and fires were pulsing on and off during the landing. The flames became quite fierce during the "roll"out of the aircraft, but would diminish and suddenly flame-on strongly again.
If you watch the landing carefully, you will see the times that the flames pulse on are the moments when the nose gear is scraping on the painted stripe on the runway.
This is very significant.
The FAA, airlines and manufacturers are always concerned with fire and especially fire avoidance and fire suppression. Fire is the number one enemy of ships, aircraft, and buildings. The fact that the tarmac paint could erupt in flames is a highly significant observation, especially where sources of flames are always a priority in accident investigation.
Imagine if there had been any available fuel source from the plane associated with this landing, leaking fuel, hydraulic fluid, or lubricant. The outcome could instead have been a significant disaster. The FAA and these airfields will need to find a far less flamable paint for these stripes.
What you say is true, but the ignition source is clearly the stripes on the tarmac.
My important observation is that it was the most boring emergency landing I've ever seen.
I thought it was BS until I watched the video. Holy cats! it does look like the stripes flame up and the flame dies out between stripes....
Passengers from the flight?
heheheh.
check the video in post #6 on this thread.
I think that paint is only highly flammable when wet because of the presence of solvents. When dry, it's not any more likely to burst into flames as any other inert material.
I admit: the flame seems to switch on and off with passage over the stripes/bare tarmac.
Didn't notice it when watching it live - but you appear to be absolutely correct. Good call. I wonder if it's significant?
Uhhh....we are really debating this?
Let's see,...plane wheel on ground,
wheel hits paint,...flames on.
wheel hits no paint,...flames gone.
wheel hits paint,...flame on.
wheel hits no paint,...flames gone.
Rabbit season
Ducks season
Rabbit season
Rabbit season,
Ducks season, fire!
And the local CNN reporter knew it would be too.
So while the plane spent 3 hours flying around he went on the Tarmac and laid down 3,829 strike strips from matchbooks right down the middle.
I know this is true so don't even try to convince me it didn't happen! :0)
hysterical!
Answer: Ceramic stripes
Get the MSNBC video clip for better proof. I noticed they had a much tighter zoom.
I'm colorblind and speculating, but I'm sure happy the way it turned out.
could you provide a link? thanks.
You are absolutely correct. What was the cause can be argued but there is no doubt that when you watch the video linked that everytime the plane's front wheel is contacting the paint it flares. You don't see the sparks at first when it is slightly off-line but the moment the plane's wheel first tags a painted line - big-time sparks.
Great observation and cannot be disputed if you watch the video.
What is really amazing is how this ace pilot kept a perfect line under the situation at hand. That's tough enough under regular conditions. I wouldn't be surprised if those lines are slightly raised (or whatnot) to give added friction to slow down a plane under standard circumstances.
If this is not just a coincidence, it might be because the stripes have too much texture (i.e. friction), not that they are too flammable. Need smoother paint!
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