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Old 06-20-2006, 15:50 PM   #16 (permalink)
Major Dad
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Quote:
Originally Posted by highsea
Supposedly the actual wheel weight is no higher than the 747, so existing runways and taxiways that can take the 747 are supposed to take the A-380.
The max. takeoff weight of the A-380 is 324,000 pounds heavier than a 747-400. They both appear to have four main gear struts with four wheels each. Unless part of the 380 is actually lighter than air, it's going to have a considerably heavier footprint.
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Old 06-20-2006, 15:56 PM   #17 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Major Dad
...They both appear to have four main gear struts with four wheels each.
From Wiki:
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Early critics claimed that the A380 would damage taxiways and other airport surfaces. However, the pressure exerted by its wheels is lower than that of a 747 because the A380 has more wheels than the 747 (22 wheels in the A380 compared to 18 wheels in the 747). Airbus tested this using a special ballasted rig, designed to replicate the landing gear of the A380. The rig, weighing 540 tonnes (595 short tons), was towed up and down at Airbus' facilities at Toulouse and after each pass the ground was carefully inspected.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_A380
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Old 06-20-2006, 16:09 PM   #18 (permalink)
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Max. takeoff weight of the heaviest 747 is 910,000 lbs. 910000/18=50,555 lbs/wheel.

Max. takeoff weight of the A-380 is 1,234,588 lbs. 1234588/22=56,117 lbs/wheel.

Of course, this assumes equal loading of all wheels, which isn't realistic. The nose gear doesn't carry anything like the weight that the main gear does. This would increase the loading on the main gear even more. I still think it's fishy.
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Old 06-20-2006, 16:22 PM   #19 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Major Dad
Max. takeoff weight of the heaviest 747 is 910,000 lbs. 910000/18=50,555 lbs/wheel.
I flew the 747-400 simulator at the Boeing training center in Seattle. I don't remember the exact number, but I know my TOW was over 1,000,000 lbs...

You're right that the wheels are loaded differently from main to nose, but it's more than just weight/number. The size of the wheels and the balance also has bearing on the ground pressure.

Edit to add: also consider that the 747 has 16 wheels on the main gear, and the A-380 has 20. That's 25% more wheels than the 747 where most of the weight resides.
Last edited by highsea : 06-20-2006 at 16:29 PM.
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Old 06-20-2006, 16:32 PM   #20 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by highsea
I flew the 747-400 simulator at the Boeing training center in Seattle. I don't remember the exact number, but I know my TOW was over 1,000,000 lbs....
http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=100

Quote:
Originally Posted by highsea
You're right that the wheels are loaded differently from main to nose, but it's more than just weight/number. The size of the wheels and the balance also has bearing on the ground pressure.
Size, yes. Balance, maybe. I suppose they could be using some kind of extra-wide wheel, but I still think it sounds fishy.
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Old 06-20-2006, 16:34 PM   #21 (permalink)
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talking about wheels, one has to look at the rear wheel section for the An-225 14 wheels on each side(totalling 28 on the rear)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:A...nding_gear.jpg
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Old 06-20-2006, 16:57 PM   #22 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by Major Dad
Yeah, I know what the specs say, I'm just relating what my experience was- my instructor pointed it out to me specifically. I also had no trouble climbing out at that weight, but that was at sea level- MTOW's vary depending on density altitude, and everything is calculated by the flight management computer before takeoff- V1, V2, etc. It also tells you the load on each wheel and verifies the CG is within the envelope.

It may not be certified for it, but the capability to take off 1,000,000 lbs. is definitely there...
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