Everything You Need to Know about Aircraft Landing Gear

Landing gear plays a crucial role in aviation, serving as the principal support system for aircraft during takeoff, flight, and landing. Therefore, having a comprehensive understanding of it is essential for aviation professionals and enthusiasts alike, so read on as we discuss the components, types, maintenance needs, and emerging technologies associated with landing gear.

Landing gear refers to the undercarriage of an aircraft, comprising wheels, struts, and other mechanisms, a critical system that ensures the stability and safety of aircraft operations. The primary function of landing gear is to support the weight of an aircraft during ground operations and absorb the shock of landing. It also facilitates smooth taxiing, steering, and braking upon landing, enhancing overall control and safety. As a result, properly functioning landing gear is indispensable for both ensuring passenger comfort and maintaining the structural integrity of an aircraft.

Aircraft landing gear systems vary depending on the design and operational requirements of an aircraft. The two main types are conventional gear and tricycle gear. Conventional gear, also known as tailwheel gear, features a configuration with two main wheels forward and a smaller wheel or skid at the tail. Historically prevalent in early aviation and still used in certain vintage and specialized aircraft today, conventional gear provides simplicity and lightweight characteristics. However, it requires more skill to operate during takeoff and landing due to its inherent instability on the ground.

Tricycle gear, on the other hand, is the more common configuration in modern aircraft. This design features two main wheels under the wings and a single nose wheel or caster at the front of an aircraft. This layout provides better stability and control during takeoff, landing, and ground operations, making it the preferred choice for most modern aircraft, including commercial airliners and general aviation planes.

A notable subtype found in both conventional and tricycle configurations is retractable landing gear. This design allows the landing gear to retract into an aircraft's fuselage or wings during flight, reducing drag and improving aerodynamic efficiency. Retractable landing gear is typically employed in high-speed aircraft, including many commercial airliners and high-performance military jets, where minimizing drag is crucial for fuel efficiency and speed.

Aircraft landing gear systems typically consist of several essential components, including wheels and tires, struts, shock absorbers, brakes, and optionally, hydraulic or electric actuators, all of which must be made to withstand varying flight conditions. The struts, shock absorbers, and actuators must strike an optimal balance between durability and weight, often being constructed from stainless steel, titanium alloys, aluminum alloys, and other materials. Meanwhile, high-strength rubber compounds are utilized for the tires, allowing them to withstand high loads and varying surface conditions. Finally, as brakes withstand intense frictional forces during deceleration, they are commonly made from heat-resistant materials like carbon composites or steel. Together, these components and materials form a robust landing gear system essential for the safe and efficient operation of aircraft across all types and sizes.

Due to the importance of the landing gear, proper maintenance is critical to ensure operational safety. Common issues with landing gear include hydraulic leaks, structural fatigue, malfunctioning brakes, and tire wear. Hydraulic leaks can lead to loss of pressure, affecting the extension and retraction of landing gear, while structural fatigue can generally cause failure of deployment, landing, or other operations. Lastly, both tire wear and brake failures can result in a loss of control and compromise the ability to properly stop an aircraft. All of these issues must be met with solutions that adhere to both manufacturer recommendations and industry regulations, including regular inspections and repairs, lubrication of moving parts, testing of hydraulic systems, and more as needed.

In conclusion, landing gear is a fundamental system that is largely responsible for ensuring safety, stability, and control during critical phases of flight. Logistics 3Sixty serves as a single-source platform for all the aircraft parts you need to keep your fleet in optimal condition, offering unrivaled access to over 2 billion products from leading manufacturers. Everything we have in stock is offered with rapid lead times and competitive pricing for your benefit, and requesting quotes on any items you come across is made simple through our online RFQ service and forms. To ensure a quick procurement process, we routinely guarantee tailored responses within 15 minutes of receiving and reviewing a completed form. If you would like to learn more about our products and services, explore our website or get in touch with a representative of ours today.