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Can you retract the landing gear?
Well, the short answer is no. Modern airplanes have something called “Squat switch”. Essentially it is a sensor, which can tell if a plane is still standing on the ground. When the squat switch is activated, meaning that the plane is still on the ground, it is physically impossible to retract the landing gear.
What methods can be used to power retractable landing gear?
Retractable Landing Gear Functionality: A similar process occurs during gear extension. The pump which pressurizes the fluid in the system can be either engine driven or electrically powered. If using an electrically powered pump to pressurize the fluid, the system is called an electro-hydraulic system.
What is non absorbing landing gear?
[Figure 13-13] The most common example of this type of non-shock absorbing landing gear are the thousands of single-engine Cessna aircraft that use it. Non-shock absorbing struts made from steel, aluminum, or composite material transfer the impact forces of landing to the airframe at a non-damaging rate.
Why is landing gear retracted after take off?
Normally, the landing gear is retracted after lift-off when the airplane has reached an altitude where, in the event of an engine failure or other emergency requiring an aborted takeoff, the airplane could no longer be landed on the runway. The climb characteristics of the particular airplane.
Which motor is used in retractable landing gear system?
This system uses a two-position switch on the instrument panel, not unlike other landing-gear switches. In the Piper system, the switch controls a reversible electric motor. This motor is powered by the aircraft’s electrical system to operate a hydraulic pump used to pressurize hydraulic actuators.
What type of fluid is used in the landing gear retraction system?
A hydraulic landing gear retraction system utilizes pressurized hydraulic fluid to actuate linkages to raise and lower the gear. When a switch in the flightdeck is moved to the UP position, hydraulic fluid is directed into the gear up line.
What is tricycle type landing gear?
Tricycle gear is a type of aircraft undercarriage, or landing gear, arranged in a tricycle fashion. The tricycle arrangement has a single nose wheel in the front, and two or more main wheels slightly aft of the center of gravity.
Why do most small aircraft not have retractable landing gear?
This is an issue as planes get smaller. Cost: They add extra costs in installation and maintenance. Application: High speed applications justify a retractable landing gear for a more aerodynamic shape.
What type of aircraft landing gear is best?
Conventional landing gear is beneficial when operating in and out of non-paved runways as it provides increased clearance for the forward fuselage. Conventional landing gear also allows for adequate ground clearance for larger propellers.
What is the difference between skids and retractable?
It really depends on the primary use of the helicopter; if you are logging, skids make sense because you can lift larger loads and are more concerned with hovering performance. If the primary mission is medevac or air transport, retractable wheels allow greater speed and increased fuel economy over long distances.
Can an airplane fly without retracting its landing gears?
All airplanes do not have to retract their gear; many planes are fixed-gear, and cannot retract gear. Some planes retract their gear. Planes can leave their gear deployed all through flight, provided they remain slow enough that the extra airflow drag doesn’t damage the airplane and landing gear.
Who invented retractable landing gear?
Leroy Gruman invented retractable landing gear.
Why do planes do not fly over the Pacific?
The primary reason airplanes don’t fly over the Pacific Ocean is because curved routes are shorter than straight routes. Flat maps are somewhat confusing because the Earth itself isn’t flat. Rather, it’s spherical. As a result, straight routes don’t offer the shortest distance between two locations.
Do airplanes use hydraulics?
At present, aircraft uses hydraulic system: For flight controls, thrust reversers, and spoilers in heavy aircraft. To move and actuate landing gears, brakes, and flaps.
What is the difference between fixed and retractable landing gear?
Retractable landing gear can be raised to be inside the fusalage and wings to reduce drag but fixed gear sticks out into the airstream and causes a lot of drag and inefficiently.
Why do we use ground lock in aircraft landing gear?
Ground locks are used in landing gear as extra insurance that the landing gear will remain locked in position while the aircraft is on the ground. A ground lock is an external device that is placed in the retraction mechanism to prevent its movement.
What is shock absorbing landing gear?
Shock Absorbing and Non-Shock Absorbing Landing Gear This is done in two ways: The shock energy is altered and transferred throughout the airframe at a different rate and time than the single strong pulse of impact. The shock is absorbed by converting the energy into heat energy.
What material is used inside of a landing gear shock oleo strut?
The last type of strut is the only one that is a true shock absorber. Shock struts, often called oleo or air/oil struts, use a combination of nitrogen (or sometimes compressed air) and hydraulic fluid to absorb and dissipate shock loads on landing.
What is skid type landing gear?
Skid is a landing gear that consists of a set of beams supporting the aircraft on the ground. Skids are usually found on helicopters. Amphibious is a landing gear that is designed to operate on water via the aircraft’s airframe or floats attached to the airframe and to operate on land via wheeled landing gear.
What is float type landing gear?
Floatplanes are a type of seaplane, and have floats (or pontoons) mounted underneath their fuselage to act as landing gear. Some floatplanes only have floats, and are only able to land in the water. An aircraft that can land on both water and ground is called an amphibious aircraft.
What are the disadvantages of tricycle landing gear?
The greatest drawback to tricycle gear is the greater weight and drag incurred by adding the large nosewheel strut. Whereas many taildraggers can afford to use non-retracting gear with minimal impact on performance, planes with nosewheels almost always require retraction mechanisms to reduce drag.
