Aircraft Landing Gear: An account of recent developments in undercarriage design and the materials used

WHILE an aircraft is in flight, the landing gear is a liability which, by virtue of its weight and size, and demands upon power supplies, reduces the efficiency of the aircraft. However, at two of the most critical and dangerous parts of the sortie, namely take‐off and landing, the safety of the aircraft depends to a very great extent upon the landing gear working effectively. Even V.T.O.L. aircraft do not seem to be able to dispense with landing gear. In fact, with an increasing emphasis on S.T.O.L. aircraft, and the use of rough airfields, the demands on landing gear seem to be increasing. The landing gear designer is still, therefore, faced with the problem of providing equipment of minimum size and weight, to meet a specification which, in some parts, is not very well defined. In common with other members of the aerospace industry, he is constantly seeking methods of improving his product.