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Old 3rd December 2005 | 13:41
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NickLappos
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,012
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From: USA
As part of several design teams, Graviman, I can assure you once a helo design spends the effort to retract its gear, the few advantages of skids vanishes, and the advantages of wheels predominates.

Advantages
Skids - Cheap, simple, a bit lighter
Wheels - Operationally much more suitable - taxi without wind, turning, towing, running takeoff and landing, slope operations, rough field operations, smoother touchdowns, less gear penetration on soft terrain (less landing footprint pressure)

Disadvantages
Skids - more dangerous due to entrapment/dynamic rollover and running landing rollover; no braking control, poorer running takeoff capability, poor ground handling, hover taxi required (and its bothersome downwash). High drag
Wheels - higher maintenance, somewhat higher weight, higher cost
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