What Are the Main Components of Civil Aviation Landing Gear

• Support During Ground Operations: Landing gear is absolutely essential for civil aircraft to operate on the ground, such assemblies bearing weight when taxiing, taking off, and landing.
• Energy Absorption: Landing gear assemblies are engineered to absorb the shock of force landing, protecting the airframe and passengers from undesirable effects.
• Directional Control: Nose gear systems are a common element of landing gear, assisting pilots in steering during taxiing.
• Braking and Deceleration: Main gear assemblies are commonly equipped with brakes to slow an aircraft after landing.

The Main Components of Civil Aviation Landing Gear

Landing gear assemblies are composed of multiple subsystems that work together to provide basic functionality, the following elements being the most notable examples.

Wheels and Tires

Wheels and tires are some of the most important elements of landing gear assemblies for the ability to traverse ground surfaces. Landing gear wheels in particular are fitted with high-pressure aviation tires capable of withstanding heavy loads and high speeds, facilitating grip and stability during ground operations. While highly advanced, wheels and tires both must be replaced regularly due to the stress of repeated cycles.

Braking Systems

Brakes help decelerate an aircraft safely and enable exact stopping distances, with various designs being available. Modern aircraft tend to feature multi-disc brakes that are outfitted with carbon materials for heat resistance and reduced weight. Additionally, many aircraft also take advantage of autobrake systems to achieve automatic deceleration during landing.

Shock Struts

Often called oleos, shock struts are hydraulic dampers that are filled with oil and compressed gas, allowing them to absorb and dissipate landing forces. By cushioning impacts and preventing structural stress from transferring to the fuselage, shock struts enhance passenger comfort and prolong aircraft service life.

Steering Systems

Nose gear assemblies typically incorporate hydraulic or electric steering mechanisms that allow pilots to alter the direction of the aircraft while taxiing on runaways, aprons, and other ground surfaces.

Retraction Mechanisms

For many assemblies, retracting gear is important for reducing aerodynamic drag and improving efficiency during flight. To do this, hydraulic or electric actuators control the extension and retraction of landing gear, while gear doors open and close to allow storage in the fuselage or wing compartments. This allows for the aircraft to achieve aerodynamic smoothness when gear is not needed, leading to various savings.

Drag Struts and Side Braces

Drag struts and side braces are both structural members that lock landing gear into position and provide stability against forward and lateral forces. This prevents the risk of gear collapse and ensures safe support of the aircraft during operations.

Hydraulic and Electrical Systems

To ensure coordinated operation across landing gear subsystems and reliable actuation, aircraft often leverage a network of actuators, valves, pumps, and electrical wiring to provide power and control.

Basic Landing Gear Configurations

The Tailwheel Configuration

Also known as the conventional design for aircraft, the tailwheel configuration features two main gears toward the front of the aircraft and a small wheel at the tail. These designs are more rare in modern civil aviation, a result of newer configurations offering more preferable characteristics for civil aviation operations.

The Tricycle Configuration

As a standard of modern civil aircraft, tricycle configurations feature a single nose gear and two main gear assemblies. This provides stability during ground operations and takeoff, as well as easier steering.

Multiple Bogie Systems

Found on wide-body aircraft like the Boeing 777 and Airbus A380, these configurations consist of multi-wheel bogies that distribute heavy loads across multiple tires. This improves weight balance and increases redundancy for flight safety.

Where You Can Secure Reliable Landing Gear System Parts

For those in need of reliable landing gear system parts that trace back to industry leaders, Aerospace Unlimited is unrivaled with our wide-ranging selection that is available for purchase today. As you browse our curated catalogs, you can always secure tailored pricing options with ease using our online Request for Quote (RFQ) forms, our team members offering rapid responses to each submission. You can also get in touch directly by phone or email, where we would be happy to provide one-on-one consultation to address your needs. See why so many customers depend on ASAP Semiconductor for fulfillment when you take the first step of procurement on Aerospace Unlimited.