![]() ![]() This configuration is not widely used as it presents difficulties in landing and ground operation. Tandem arrangements are characterised by the main and auxiliary gear being aligned on the same longitudinal axis, usually with a number of smaller supporting outrigger gears to support the aircraft while on the ground. Ground loops are prevented with tricycle undercarriages as the center of gravity is ahead of the main landing gear.This can cause the aircraft to nose over if the brakes are applied too vigorously and at too high a speed. In a tail wheel aircraft, application of the brakes will cause the nose to tip down with no support. Application of the brakes during landing will tend to push the nose down which is supported by the nosewheel.Ground operations are easier as the nose of the aircraft is more-or-less level during taxi.There are a number of advantages to using a tricycle arrangement in addition to it being easier to land due to improved visibility over the nose. ![]() The main gear sits just behind the center of gravity and a forward nosewheel completes the arrangement.įigure 3: An early advert for the Cessna 172 in a tricycle configuration. The more popular tricycle landing gear configuration primarily in use today gained popularity in the 1950’s and 1960’s in part due to Cessna’s “Land-O-Matic” promotional campaign which positioned tricycle aircraft as a very easy to land alternative to the conventional layout. Tail-wheel aircraft are considered more difficult to land than tricycle configurations, which is probably the reason for the decline in new aircraft fitted with a conventional layout.įigure 2: Two of the most common landing gear configurations are the conventional tailwheel layout and tricycle undercarriage. This configuration results in an aircraft with a nose high attitude on the ground, providing good propeller clearance and keeping the forward fuselage away from the landing surface.Ī conventional gear arrangement is lighter than the more common tricycle arrangement as the tail wheel can be made small with a simple structure. This is termed a conventional (or tailwheel) arrangement as this was the original configuration in popular use. Conventional Configuration (Tail wheel)Įarly aircraft were designed with the main landing gear ahead of the center of gravity and a small nosewheel located at the tail. Whatever the configuration, the main wheels are larger, stronger, and located near the aircraft center of gravity (c.g.), while the auxiliary gear is located in such a position to allow the aircraft to remain balanced and supported on the ground. Amphibious aircraft use floats or pontoons to land on bodies of water, and skis are used by light aircraft in snowy regions.įigure 1: Two non-wheeled landing gear configurations.Īll landing gear configurations consist of a set of main wheels, designed to absorb the brunt of the landing load, and auxiliary wheels used to support the aircraft while on the ground. Helicopters and other vertical take-off and landing vehicles may make use of skids rather than wheels to absorb the landing and to support the vehicle on the ground. This post will focus on fixed-wing landing gear where it assumed that the aircraft will touch-down and land on a runway. This post will examine the various landing gear systems in operation, describe the components used to absorb the landing loads, and introduce some common gear retraction systems in use today. The landing gear, or undercarriage, has two primary requirements: (1) to support the aircraft while on the ground and (2) to absorb the large loads associated with landing, and transfer these from the wheels to the aircraft’s primary structure.
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