Case Studies: Inspection Rig Maintains Competitive Edge
The average 747 contains 171 miles of wiring and five miles of tubing, and is made up of six million parts-half of them fasteners. The first 747 required 75,000 engineering drawings. Given such complexity, people's failure to appreciate the importance of the huge airliner's wheels is hardly surprising. Yet aircraft wheels are subject to enormous pressures, particularly during landing. A Boeing 747 weighing more than 660,000 pounds touches down at around 124 miles per hour.
During those few landing seconds, the safety of the airliner and all on board depend on the wheels. Consequently, civil aviation authorities around the world insist that each wheel undergoes strict tests at regular intervals to maintain its top condition. Dunlop Aerospace Services (DAS, Coventry, UK), the repair and overhaul business unit of Dunlop Aerospace Braking Systems, a Meggitt group company, tests aircraft wheels. DAS specializes in nondestructive testing (NDT) of aircraft wheels, as well as repair of aircraft brakes, engine accessories and braking systems equipment.