Aeroplane Undercarriages: A Review of Current Practice with Some Notes on Design

FROM the conventional wartime under‐carriage consisting of a straight through axle suspended on bracing struts by shock absorber cord has developed the complex modern undercarriage which is required to absorb the energy of descent, provide smooth taxying and the braking effort, and disappear when not in use. These requirements have brought in their trail a collection of hydraulic, pneumatic and electrical auxiliaries and a comprehensive treatment of the subject would assume some magnitude. This paper therefore summarises existing practice to some extent, and presents some notes on various design aspects which, it is hoped, will prove informative.