Prado, Mel Kevin C.

AAMT 1-G
AMT 1105 AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES AND LANDING GEARS
ACTIVITY:
I. For your activity, you have to articulate the advantage and disadvantages of using Tail wheel
Gear Type and Tricycle gear Type of Landing gear.

Tailwheel Gear Type

Advantage Disadvantage

It creates lesser drag when extended, resulting Decreased control when the aircraft is on the
in less drag being created ground

They are lighter and more rugged, making The aircraft is prone to nosing over, which
them more suited for SOTL performance on can lead to your propeller being damaged.
unpaved landing strips that might damage a
tricycle gear type.

A tailwheel gear type has a smaller wheel that Have poor forward visibility, for it is hard to
weighs less and causes less parasitic drag, takeoff and landing with the nose pointing up,
allowing them to be made smaller and less making it harder to see
expensive to manufacture and maintain

With the three-point design of the tailwheel More susceptible to ground looping when the
gear type distributing the weight of the pilot loses directional control.
airplane evenly, they are better suited for
rough and uneven runways.

Tricycle Gear Type

Advantage Disadvantage

It offers better forward visibility during The nose wheel is the most susceptible to
Prado, Mel Kevin C.
AAMT 1-G
AMT 1105 AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES AND LANDING GEARS
takeoff, landing, and taxiing damage, so it requires careful handling to
prevent any damage

It provides more stability for the placement of When the main wheels meet resistance, more
the main gear weight is thrown onto the nose wheel

It does not nose over, where the aircraft’s tail Has a definite minimum turning radius on the
rises ground of at least a wingspan

It is easier to handle the aircraft and steer it, It experiences increased drag when the gears
especially at low speeds are not retractable

II. Landing Gears Nomenclature:

Based on the given figure in this module for the Landing Gear Nomenclature give the function
and description of each nomenclature.

Nomenclature:
1. Beam hanger
● A component of the aircraft's landing gear system that provides support and stability
during takeoff, landing, and taxiing operations
2. Walking beam
● Holds the primary gear actuator
3. Main gear actuator
● A device that controls the movement of the main landing gear wheels, ensuring proper
extension and retraction during flight operations
4. Ground speed brake cable (right gear only)
● A safety feature in the landing gear system that regulates the speed of the wheels during
ground operations, preventing accidents and damage to the aircraft
5. Trunnion link
● A hinge to retract the landing gear
6. Drag strut
● It carries some of the aircraft load.
7. Universal side stud fitting
● Used to service landing gear shock struts
8. Damper hydraulic line
● A hydraulic line that controls the movement of a damper in the landing gear system,
ensuring smooth and safe operation
9. Main gear damper
● A component that regulates the movement of the main landing gear wheels, ensuring
proper balance and stability during flight operations
10. Downlock spring bungee
● A spring-loaded bungee that helps maintain the position of a downlock actuator or other
mechanical components.
11. Downlock actuator
● A device that controls the movement of a down lock actuator
12. Reaction link
● A link that connects the reaction forces in a mechanical system, ensuring proper balance
and stability.
13. Uplock actuator
● A mechanical device that controls the movement of an uplock actuator
14. Uplock spring bungee
● A spring-loaded bungee that helps maintain the position of an uplock actuator
15. Downlock
● It connects the uplock and down lock actuators.
16. Side strut
Prado, Mel Kevin C.
AAMT 1-G
AMT 1105 AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES AND LANDING GEARS
● A component that provides support and stability to a beam hanger and other components
17. Shock strut
● A strut that helps absorb and distribute the impact force to ensure smooth and safe
operation
18. Uplock lifter
● A device that assets in the lifting of an uplock actuator
19. Gravel deflector
● A component that deflects gravel or other debris away from a specific area to ensure
proper functioning
20. Axle
● The rotating shaft or spindle that supports a wheel or other rolling element in the landing
gear system
21. Torsion links
● Connectors that allow for the movement of the landing gear wheels in the system,
ensuring smooth and safe operation
-

III. Guided Question

Some of the early aircraft designs use a skid rather than a tail wheel type of landing gears, why
do you think most manufacturers prefer to use skids, and what is it that the tail wheel type has to
offer for them to switch with this type of landing gear.

→ Most manufacturers preferred skids in early aviation because they provided simplicity,
stability, straightforward takeoffs, and landings on various surfaces, such as grass or dirt fields.
What the tailwheel type can offer to the manufacturers to change from a skid landing gear to a
tailwheel is that the tailwheel gear type has improved maneuverability than a skid, especially
during takeoff and landing. It can also offer better aerodynamics in certain situations.

Enrichment activities
Prado, Mel Kevin C.
AAMT 1-G
AMT 1105 AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES AND LANDING GEARS
Answer the following (Essay Form)
1. DISCUSS THE DIFFERENT TYPE OF LANDING GEAR ARRANGEMENT?

2. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENT BETWEEN FIXED LANDING GEAR AND

RETRACTABLE LANDING GEAR?

There are three different landing gear arrangement types: the Tail Wheel-Type Landing Gear,
Tandem Landing Gear, and Tricycle-Type Landing Gear. They have a distinct concept from each
other. Tailwheel type landing gear, also known as Conventional gear, is the most common
landing gear type in early aviation; it has two main wheels positioned at the forward section of
the aircraft and a small wheel installed at the aft section, closer to the tail or empennage of the
plane. It is designed to run on rough terrain with no problem. However, it is prone to nosing over
for its design. The tricycle-type landing gear is the most common in present aviation, for it
consists of a main gear stationed at the mid-rear part of the aircraft and a nose gear situated at the
nose part of the aircraft. It provides better control of the aircraft on the ground but has a
weakness at the nose gear part because it is the most susceptible to damage. Lastly, there is the
Tandem Landing Gear, commonly used on a long or narrow fuselage, where the main gear and
the tail gear are aligned on the aircraft's longitudinal axis. They are ideal for an aircraft that
requires a slim profile for aerodynamic efficiency, such as gliders. In taxiing, this kind of aircraft
with Tandem landing gear requires S-turns.

Each type of landing gear has its advantages and disadvantages, and different aircraft have their
own landing gears needed to operate.

In different landing arrangement types, there is a Fixed Landing Gear and a Retractable Landing
Gear. Fixed landing gears can usually be seen on smaller aircraft where the landing gears are
permanently attached and remain extended at the aircraft, whether on the ground or in the air.
This kind of gear is usually reliable and cost-effective. However, they increase the drag that is
affecting the aircraft. Retractable landing gear can help decrease the aircraft's drag during the
flight. When that plane has taken off, its landing gears will be retracted inside the aircraft; this
kind of landing gear is commonly used in higher-performance aircraft like passenger ones. This
landing gear adds weight and is more expensive to install and maintain than the fixed landing
gear.

In summary, fixed landing gear is simple, dependable, and inexpensive, but it can increase drag;
retractable landing gear decreases drag and increases performance. However, it is heavier, more
complex, and expensive to maintain. The aircraft's performance requirements and design
constraints determine the choice between the two types.