Aircraft braking systems are complex, in part because of the need for differential braking. The part of the system that actually slows the airplane and enables us to make tight turns works on a simple concept—friction.
Many different methods are employed to help stop an airplane. The most common of these is the disc brake system. A disc brake consists of three major parts—one or more calipers, the pads, and the rotor. Calipers hold and actuate the pads, which then grab and hold the rotor in the same way you may catch a Frisbee.
When the pilot steps on the brake pedal a piston called a master cylinder provides pressure on a small tube filled with hydraulic fluid. The other end of the tube is connected to the caliper, which usually has its own pistons or pucks that are pushed out as a result of the increased pressure. The pucks push on the pad, which then provides friction on the rotor.
Related Articles
