Did you know that registration to Fighter Control is completely free and brings you lots of added features? Find out more....

U2 Wheels

Please post movements and activities to do with RAF Fairford here
Post Reply
Snoop 95
Posts: 1885
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 4:17 pm
Location: West Suffolk

U2 Wheels

Post by Snoop 95 » Wed Jan 26, 2022 7:49 pm

I was watching a video of a U2 landing and wondered what the rear undercarriage wheels are made from as they do not appear to have rubber tyres. Perhaps they are the same as those on the 'pogo stick' wing wheels.
Can anyone provide the answer please?

Firefighter
Posts: 203
Joined: Fri Apr 27, 2012 3:13 pm
Location: Melksham, Wilts.

Re: U2 Wheels

Post by Firefighter » Wed Jan 26, 2022 10:16 pm

Some guy told me that they were made of the same material as skate board wheels.

luxto
Posts: 634
Joined: Fri Oct 02, 2020 11:56 am

Re: U2 Wheels

Post by luxto » Thu Jan 27, 2022 2:55 am

Firefighter wrote:
Wed Jan 26, 2022 10:16 pm
Some guy told me that they were made of the same material as skate board wheels.
Solid rubber?

page_verify
Posts: 1640
Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2010 9:19 pm

Re: U2 Wheels

Post by page_verify » Thu Jan 27, 2022 7:26 am

The U-2 lands on its rear wheels first and one of the reasons they're solid plastic is because their lack of compression reduces the bounce and roll that you might get landing on a single set of centreline pneumatic wheels. They'll appear to be tougher and larger set of pogo wheels but I doubt they're the same design as the pogo wheels have to pirouette.

Snoop 95
Posts: 1885
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 4:17 pm
Location: West Suffolk

Re: U2 Wheels

Post by Snoop 95 » Thu Jan 27, 2022 8:45 am

They certainly look like they are made of plastic from photo's and videos. There are some very durable plastics around now as per the skateboard ones mentioned. Must be a bit of a shudder when the solid tail wheels hit the ground as there seems to be little suspension there either.
Thanks everyone.

luxto
Posts: 634
Joined: Fri Oct 02, 2020 11:56 am

Re: U2 Wheels

Post by luxto » Thu Jan 27, 2022 9:31 am

Consulted Aerograph 3, Lockheed U-2, by the renowned US aviation author Jay Miller. He states that both the Pogo and rear tyres are "hard rubber". In numerous videos that I've taken of U-2's landing the same blueish smoke comes off both the main and rear wheels on touch down suggesting they are both made of the same material.

ajsr71
Posts: 16
Joined: Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:24 am
Location: Macclesfield, Cheshire

Re: U2 Wheels

Post by ajsr71 » Thu Jan 27, 2022 5:04 pm


page_verify
Posts: 1640
Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2010 9:19 pm

Re: U2 Wheels

Post by page_verify » Thu Jan 27, 2022 6:02 pm

Aye, to clarify, it's the pneumatic piston for the front wheels which amplifies the roll from the bounce on landing.

Snoop 95
Posts: 1885
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 4:17 pm
Location: West Suffolk

Re: U2 Wheels

Post by Snoop 95 » Fri Jan 28, 2022 9:27 am

Very interesting indeed and as usual I can count on FC'ers to answer my question in depth!

page_verify
Posts: 1640
Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2010 9:19 pm

Re: U2 Wheels

Post by page_verify » Wed Feb 23, 2022 6:18 pm

I've never needed to kick the tyres (literally) but something made me search tonight that led me to this photo.

Image

User avatar
Pune
Posts: 4189
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:47 am
Location: Midlands

Re: U2 Wheels

Post by Pune » Wed Feb 23, 2022 6:55 pm

page_verify wrote:
Wed Feb 23, 2022 6:18 pm
I've never needed to kick the tyres (literally) but something made me search tonight that led me to this photo.

Image
Sadly my software won't permit opening of the image :Wow:
If you can keep your head whilst all around are losing theirs, you have probably completely misread the situation!!

POL
Posts: 16717
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 3:26 pm

Re: U2 Wheels

Post by POL » Wed Feb 23, 2022 6:57 pm


luxto
Posts: 634
Joined: Fri Oct 02, 2020 11:56 am

Re: U2 Wheels

Post by luxto » Wed Feb 23, 2022 7:22 pm

By an incredible coincidence the starboard wheel blew when todays flight landed. It didn't shred but looked a little deflated as it taxied back to parking, after the Mobile and recovery crew checked it was safe to do so.

Post Reply

Return to “RAF Fairford”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 22 guests