REFLECTOR:Brake selection (fade vs melt)

[reflector@tvbf.org]

> I'm not exactly sure where that leaves the situation in
> terms of a missed takeoff and the ability of the brakes
> to pull up at full gross without overheating if we all
> agree that that should be the principal criteria for
> judging brake effectiveness.

Ok Greg, 

There are two separate issues at work here. One issue is the total energy absorption capability of the Matco brakes. Absorbed energy does turn into heat and if you grossly overheat your disk and pads you will get "brake fade".

The other issue is melting gear legs. 

You can melt a gear leg and not get brake fade and you can get brake fade and not melt the gear leg! Two completely separate issues. 

The key is the duration of the heat event. Long relatively low heat levels like from dragging a brake on a 5000 foot taxi in a crosswind can melt the gear leg whereas brake fade comes into play when you hit the brakes very hard in a very short period of time. Like an aborted take off or landing long and trying to stop short. 

Your original question was...

> Have I got the general consensus right? ...and just how
> successful has modifications been to keep heat from the
> Matco's from affecting the main gear legs?

To me your question related exclusively to potential damage to the gear legs and that is what my rather long and poorly proof read :) post on pilot technique addressed yesterday. The melting gear leg problem could apply to any Velocity any where, anytime if poor pilot technique is used. (and the proper technique is spelled out in the Velo POH) 

The energy absorption (brake fade) question seems to relate only to the larger XL with Matco brakes.