Who Cares, the damage is done when the tyre blows, not the subsequent retraction. When the sidewall bursts, the main section is flung with great force and, depending on which wheel blows, can do substantial damage to lower wing skin, flaps, fuselage skin, fairings and can sever hydraulic lines.
I have experienced one of these events, and I was impressed with how well the hydraulic plugs worked so that I still had all four hydraulic systems working despite 4 lines on the strut being severed by the force of the tyre failure.
PS. The B747 does have in-flight brakes.
Last edited by Going Boeing; 20th Oct 2013 at 09:47.