Kneeling landing gear: The C5 variable geometry development

THE BASIC MILITARY NEED for the C‐5 relates to the ‘Remote Presence’ concept involving rapid deployment of troops and all heavy equipment to any remote location thereby allowing for minimised standing army and equipment requirements. This ‘Remote Presence’ concept requires that a 300 ton airplane land and takeoff from an unsurfaced field. This takes a very special sort of landing gear. The C‐5 has been designed to land, unload and load, and take off from a strip similar to a dry football field without any damage to the gear or aircraft.