CHAPTER 13
LANDING GEAR SYSTEMS
nose catapult components that provide the aircraft with
INTRODUCTION
carrier deck takeoff capabilities.
Maintenance on the landing gear, at times, requires
maintenance of related systems. This chapter covers the
FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT
general landing gear systems. Also covered are drop
checking procedures, troubleshooting, and the
Landing gear systems in fixed-wing aircraft are
alignment and adjustment of the landing gear.
similar in design. Most aircraft are equipped with the
tricycle-type retractable landing gear. Some types of
The systems discussed here are representative. For
landing gear are actuated in different sequences and
training purposes, we will use many values for
directions, but practically all are hydraulically operated
tolerances and pressures to illustrate normal operating
and electrically controlled. With a knowledge of basic
conditions. When actually performing the maintenance
hydraulics and familiarity with the operation of
procedures, you must consult the current applicable
actuating system components, you should be able to
technical publications for the exact values to be used.
understand the operational and troubleshooting
procedures for landing gear systems.
LANDING GEAR SYSTEMS
Main Landing Gear
LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Identify the var-
ious types of landing gear used on fixed-wing
The typical aircraft landing gear assembly consists
and rotary-wing aircraft.
of two main landing gears and one steerable nose
Every aircraft maintained in today's Navy is
landing gear. As you can see in figure 13-1, a main gear
equipped with a landing gear system. Most Navy
is installed under each wing. Because aircraft are
aircraft also use arresting and catapult gear. The landing
different in size, shape, and construction, every landing
gear is that portion of the aircraft that supports the
gear is specially designed. Although main landing
weight of the aircraft while it is on the ground. The
gears are designed differently, all main gear struts are
landing gear contains components that are necessary
attached to strong members of the wings or fuselage so
for taking off and landing the aircraft safely. Some of
that the landing shock is distributed throughout the
these components are landing gear struts that absorb
main body of the structure. The main gears are also
landing and taxiing shocks; brakes that are used to stop
equipped with brakes that are used to shorten the
and, in some cases, steer the aircraft; nosewheel
landing roll of the aircraft and to guide the aircraft
steering for steering the aircraft; and in some cases,
during taxiing.
Figure 13-1.--Tricycle landing gear.
13-1
