7. Landing Gear Systems in Aircraft

In this chapter, first, basic information about the landing gear (definition, purpose, and duties, etc.) is given. Examples of different aircraft are given throughout the chapter. Systems in large aircraft such as extend-retract mechanisms are explained on Boeing 737 aircraft. As mentioned in the chapter introduction, landing gears are the elements that provide contact with the ground during the landing—takeoff phases and movements on the ground (during taxi), the friction resistance is minimized, and they best absorb the loads caused by the horizontal and vertical movements of the aircraft. Afterward, different landing gear layouts and their usage areas, advantages, and disadvantages are mentioned. Landing gear struts, which are one of the basic elements of the landing gear and provide structural strength, are mentioned. By specifying the characteristics of different strut structures, the damping structure of the energies arising from the landing is explained. After the strut structures, wheels, tires, and brake structures, which are the other basic elements of the landing gear, are explained. Since there are retractable landing gears in large aircraft, the extend-retract mechanisms of the main and nose landing gear, their controls, and indicators are mentioned. Finally, the nose wheel steering mechanism that provides guidance during movement on the ground and the tail skid structure that prevents the tail from hitting the ground directly during takeoff are mentioned.