[steve86]

Next time try a series post.

Yeah, the painted strip might ignite the whole LA basin.

[SamAdams76]

The sparks were caused by friction of the metal parts of the nose gear contacting the cement. I don't think the paint on the runway entered into it.

[cmsgop]

Good Point, Is there such a Non Flammable Paint the will withstand all those TA/L and be cost effective ?????

[GrandmaPatriot]

Very good observation. I too noticed it and mentioned it to grandpa. He said the paint was burning even though the commentators kept saying the tires were on fire. It was quite obvious.

[HighWheeler]

Here is the video


Watch the paint stripe

http://www.asjewelers.com/FRstuff/16/jet_blue.wmv

[Shqipo]

I was under the impression that emergency services had sprayed down the tarmac w/ anti-flammatory chemicals, and that these bursts of sparks were when the tire stem hit less saturated areas.

[umgud]

This may also ahve been the ground up magnesium of the wheels being scattered and burning and maybe just coincidental that the wheels/gear was centered over the stripes.

[satchmodog9]

You sure it wasn't the other way around that the paint stopped the sparks and the landing gear only sparked when it hit bare tarmac?

[spycatcher]

Stripes were flaming up alright

[COEXERJ145]

If the wheel is made of aluminum, then the fire was probably caused by a combination of aluminum dust and rubber which burns like a blow torch. These just happen to be two key ingredients for making certain types of rocket fuel.

[Xenalyte]

My important observation is that it was the most boring emergency landing I've ever seen.

[Cogadh na Sith]

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....

[TravisBickle]

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.

[StatenIsland]

Didn't notice it when watching it live - but you appear to be absolutely correct. Good call. I wonder if it's significant?

[Tulsa Ramjet]

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!

[MJY1288]

Good observation, The paint definitely caused flames, where the metal on tarmac only made sparks.

Answer: Ceramic stripes

[spycatcher]

Get the MSNBC video clip for better proof. I noticed they had a much tighter zoom.

[torchthemummy]

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.

[smonk]

already posted. Inge_CAV's son noticed that in the original thread.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1488925/posts?q=1&&page=1251#1363

[Publius6961]

This is really silly.
The intense flames were from magnesium or titanium parts, the result of the intense friction heat.
The "pulsing" was most likely from the slipstream. The painted line had zero contribution to the effect.