Mushy brakes

[mshac]

Originally Posted by Rick Erwin

While I have not tried to lock up the brakes, I think I could.

I've never locked the brakes on my P337H with HD brakes, but I do feel the overall brake effort is high compared to other aircraft. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

I once landed at a small rural airport that a "crown" in the middle of the runway such that if you went over it fast enough, you'd catch a couple inches of air. I did in my 172P and instinctively mashed the brakes too hard while we were airborne for a split second. That stopped my tires from rotating and when we "landed" again, I blew both my main tires. Embarrassed the hell out of me because I had one of my favorite flight attendants with me.

Lucky for me, the lone A&P on the field hadn't gone home, and happened to have two tires that fit. I flew away $600 lighter. I think that "crown" put that A&P's kids through college. He had the most extensive tire inventory you've ever seen at a rural one-runway airport.