Boeing 737 | 100,000 lb 45,360 kg | 150 mph 250 km/h 130 kts |
Boeing 757 | 240,000 lb 108,860 kg | 160 mph 260 km/h 140 kts |
Airbus A320 | 155,000 lb 70,305 kg | 170 mph 275 km/h 150 kts |
Airbus A340 | 571,000 lb 259,000 kg | 180 mph 290 km/h 155 kts |
The take-off speed ranges and take-off weights of the planes are shown in the table. As you can see, aircraft wheels spin at high speeds. Is there a system that stops aircraft wheels at high speeds after take off?
Although it may differ in aircraft types, in this article, we will answer you according to the commonly used passenger aircraft.
It is quite dangerous to retract the landing gear without stopping the wheels after takeoff. The landing gear compartment contains many vital components for the aircraft. Foreign debris can damage hydraulic lines and components if the landing gear is retracted without stopping the wheels.
How to stop spinning wheels?
For all these reasons, automatic braking system operates immediately after takeoff in modern passenger aircraft. Depending on the type of aircraft (known as the brake metering valve module or de-spin actuator in Boeing), the operating principle of the automatic braking system may vary.
Well, modern planes do not have a braking system in the nose landing gear.
How to stop nose landing gear wheels?
The wheels are stopped in a different way because there is no brake system in the nose landing gear. Parts that stop the nose landing gear wheels are known as nose wheel spin brake linings or the braking pads.
After the nose landing gear is retracted, the wheels are stopped by the effect of friction force.
In the video you can see that the B737-500 aircraft stopped the wheels before the landing gear retracted.