"George Patterson" wrote in message
news:1P4qf.17527$l25.6310@trnddc03...
Morgans wrote:

I also can not imagine what could cause what you said. You said smoke
left
the tires of the 747? What would cause tires of a stopped aircraft
(just
beginning to roll) to smoke?

Giving it full power before fully releasing the brakes?

Not that it *couldn't* happen, but I think that it is unlikely.

Generally, smoke only happens when there is a considerable speed difference
between the rubber and the road. If you drag a tire from a standing start,
you make a little noise, deposit some rubber (perhaps considerable), but you
don't generate enough heat to make smoke. These are my observations, but
YMMV.

Anyway, I would like to see smoke from extended brake holding while spooling
up.
I would bet that it would have to drag 10 feet or more, to build up enough
heat. It seems more likely, to me, that a little smoke came from the engine
going to full power.

A little (nah, really big) story along these lines, a long time ago on a
747.

I was in "The Ohio State University Marching Band" (TBDBITL) when we went to
the 1980 Rose Bowl. With all of the brass instruments, drums, and personal
luggage and fuel for that long trip, I have no doubt that we were at, or
very near max gross takeoff weight. I don't know how long Port Columbus
(Rickenbacker Field) was at the time, but with the weight and size of the
aircraft, and the length of the runway, it must have been close to minimum
lengths.

The pilot went to the departure end, and went down as far as he could before
turning around and lining up on the runway centerline. After a brief hold,
he spooled up the engines and held brakes for what seemed like *much* longer
than usual. I am almost sure that there were some tires sliding. The
brakes where finally released, but there was not the usual "kick in the
back" acceleration, but we did roll on down the runway, getting airborne at
what seemed like the last moment. Trip was completed successfully, but that
takeoff was exciting, for sure.

It was during the return trip that we dropped suddenly, and kicked sideways
at the same time, just as flight attendants were clearing supper trays. I
ended up with 5 or so plates held directly over my head, without a morsel
spilling on my head. "Good catch, miss, thank you," says I !!! This was
after sleeping on the floor of LAX for 5 or 6 hours, after our chartered
plane was fogged in at San Francisco. Oh, we lost the game also, and had
been up since 4:30 AM, to march in the Rose Bowl Parade. What a day!

Sorry for my ramblings. It was a good time.
--
Jim in NC