Landing gear types
Landing gear (TP 1102) supports aircraft on ground.
- Minimum parts: struts, wheels, tires, springs or other devices absorbing shock from uneven terrain or hard landing.
- Floats, skis also count (water, snow).
Small aircraft: two main wheels plus a third (PHAK ch.7):
| Gear | Third wheel | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| Tricycle | Nosewheel (nose) | Nosewheel aircraft |
| Conventional | Rear-mounted wheel (tail) | Usually tailwheel aircraft |
- Steerable nosewheel or tailwheel linked to rudder pedals by cable or rod (TP 1102 Taxiing Turning; PHAK ch.7).
Tricycle advantages over conventional; conventional (tailwheel) trades those for its own advantages and costs:
| Gear | Effect | Aspect | Detail | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tricycle | Advantage | Braking | Harder braking on landing without nosing over | PHAK ch.7 |
| Tricycle | Advantage | Forward visibility | Better on takeoff, landing, and taxi | PHAK ch.7 |
| Conventional (tailwheel) | Advantage | Propeller clearance | More propeller ground clearance | PHAK ch.7 |
| Conventional (tailwheel) | Advantage | Field type | Better performance on unimproved or rough fields | PHAK ch.7 |
| Conventional (tailwheel) | Cost | Directional control | Worse directional control on ground | TP 1102 Taxiing: Weathercocking and Taxi speed and look-out |
| Conventional (tailwheel) | Cost | Forward visibility | Reduced forward visibility with tail down | TP 1102 Taxiing: Weathercocking and Taxi speed and look-out |
Tailwheel flying needs specific training (PHAK ch.7).
Fixed vs retractable (PHAK ch.7):
| Gear | Trait |
|---|---|
| Fixed | Always extended, simple, low maintenance |
| Retractable | Stows inside structure in cruise, streamlines aircraft |
Trap: "conventional" gear means tailwheel, not fixed gear; tailwheel can be retractable, nosewheel can be fixed.
References
- TP 1102 Ex.2 Aircraft Familiarization
- PHAK ch.7 (Landing Gear)
- TP 1102 Taxiing