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Retractable Gear - Design

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DaveD

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 28, 2010
Messages
375
Location
Perth, Western Australia
I've been thinking about retractable gear, are there any design considerations I have missed?

The vital ones:

1) It should be self-locking (not requiring power) in the lowered position and an indication should be provided to the pilot that the gear is down & locked.

2) It should be fail-safe. Following a loss of power an emergency release should be provided allowing the gear to lower and lock using only gravity and/or aerodynamic drag.

3) The retraction process mustn't cause any severe C of G or Aerodynamic (pitch up/down) problems.

Nice to have?:

1)Inhibit/ground detection switch to prevent retraction when on the ground (or is the weight of the aircraft usually enough to prevent this happening?)


2) Lower/Raise quickly? (how quick do you need to get the gear up in a go-around situation?)

I like the idea of retractable gear, but with a composite cantilever spring type gear leg (oleo's are hard to find/expensive!) has anyone else done this?
 
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