Landing gear supports an aircraft on the ground, transmits loads into the structure and helps manage the transition from flight to ground movement. Wheels are only one part of the system. Shock absorption, alignment, brakes, steering and retraction each solve a different problem.
Follow the load from the ground into the airframe
A wheel contact force passes through the tire, wheel, axle, gear structure and attachments into the aircraft. Tire deformation and the gear's suspension affect how that force develops. The structure must also accommodate loads associated with ground movement, braking and steering.
In an oleopneumatic shock strut, compressed gas provides spring action and hydraulic fluid flow provides damping. The strut's movement manages landing energy over a distance and time. A simple spring can store energy and return it; damping dissipates energy and changes the rebound behavior.
The FAA's Airframe handbook, Chapter 13, provides an illustrated introduction to landing-gear types and components. Use it to understand the architecture; aircraft-specific servicing requires the applicable current maintenance instructions.
Different components answer different questions
On a narrow screen, scroll the table horizontally. Keyboard users can focus the table region and use the arrow keys.
| Component or subsystem | Main role | Distinction to keep |
|---|---|---|
| Shock strut | Manage vertical landing and ground loads. | Damping and structural strength are separate properties. |
| Torque links and alignment features | Control relative rotation and maintain the intended wheel alignment. | Alignment does not itself absorb all landing energy. |
| Wheel brakes and anti-skid | Control wheel braking within the installed system's limits. | Wheel braking differs from carrier arrestment. |
| Steering | Direct ground movement through the applicable steering arrangement. | The steering mechanism varies by aircraft. |
| Retraction, locks and indication | Move and secure retractable gear and communicate its state. | An indication, a command and a physical lock are distinct parts of the system. |
A component diagram is useful when it shows how these functions connect. A list of all equipment supplied for an aircraft can include computers, fuel or electrical systems that are outside the landing-gear assembly itself.
Why landing severity involves more than aircraft weight
Historical NACA drop and flight tests preserved by NASA compared different landing-gear arrangements through measured response and energy absorption. Their value here is showing why physical testing matters. Results for those tested aircraft and gear designs are not ratings for modern equipment.
Engineers evaluate a system's force and motion through the event. For a general reader, the key is recognizing that energy absorption, peak load and rebound describe different aspects of performance.
What a carrier environment adds
Carrier aircraft must integrate with shipboard launch, recovery and deck handling. Landing gear supports touchdown and ground loads; a tailhook and the ship's arresting system provide a separate path for arresting loads. Wheel brakes have their own ground-movement role. These functions interact with the airframe but should retain their separate names.
The marine environment also makes corrosion protection and inspection part of lifecycle design. The suitability of a material or protective finish depends on the actual assembly, exposure and maintenance program. A general claim of corrosion resistance cannot supply an inspection interval.
On July 10, 2013, the X-47B demonstrator made an arrested landing aboard USS George H.W. Bush. NAVAIR's account records the aircraft's tailhook engaging the carrier's arresting wire. This is a useful historical example of aircraft-and-ship integration, rather than a test result attributable to landing gear alone.
How to read a landing-gear announcement
First identify whether the announcement concerns a design contract, a component test, certification, aircraft integration or a demonstrated landing. Then establish the assembly and its boundaries. A supplier may contribute several aircraft systems under one relationship.
Ask which loads or functions were evaluated and where the evidence comes from. A laboratory drop test, runway trial and carrier recovery each answer different questions. Keep the tested configuration and conditions attached to any result.
For operational or maintenance work, use the aircraft's approved manuals, qualified personnel and responsible authorities. This page helps explain the engineering vocabulary; the illustrated concept supplies no measurements or servicing steps. For a related flight-deck topic, see aircraft vision systems and their approval boundaries.