Which is probably why the A-10 was designed to leave the wheels partially exposed to lessen the damage when landing with them retracted. Guess the designers didn't listen to the military. Military jet pilots generally have another option rather than landing at all, and that seems to be the overwhelmingly preferred option, leaving the question of gear up or down a moot point.
Gear down would slow the approach speed (which is probably why it was recommended for the early jets), and anything that lessens the energy of the crash that then has to be absorbed by the structure before it is transmitted to the occupants is a good thing.
Last edited by Traffic_Is_Er_Was; 17th Jan 2019 at 22:09.