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I would expect their asphalt being a lot harder and more heat resistant than the one that let my motorcycle fall multiple times in the past years because it mel
by squarefoot 4y ago
I would expect their asphalt being a lot harder and more heat resistant than the one that let my motorcycle fall multiple times in the past years because it melt during summer heat. I clearly wouldn't expect airplanes wheels to "sink" into asphalt like my bike stand, but they need a strong grip when braking during landings which I doubt a much softer surface would offer. Not an expert though, just speculating.
- jacquesm 4y agoA softer surface would give more grip, not less. In fact it would give so much grip that it starts to adhere to the tires.
- squarefoot 4y agoYou're right of course, what I wondered was if the asphalt could become so soft that it loses consistency; some of it surely adheres to the tires, but what if it would do that by detaching from the runway? However, I'm certainly biased for having seen asphalt so softened by summer heat that I could leave my tracks just by walking on it.
- Scoundreller 4y agoI’d assume rainy UK would have softer runway surfaces for wet-weather performance. Unlike car tires where people may switch them between climates/seasons, aircraft tires need to be fairly universal.