Folks,
military operations pop the gear in the base turn.,
Or popping the gear inverted, in an (over) enthusiastic pitch and break.
Quite frankly, with the ball in the middle
(and we all keep the ball in the middle, don't we, kiddies) it doesn't matter when you put the gear down, from the machinery's point, and a little "G" can assist, as I once found out when I had a main gear hang up --- took about 2.5 G to pull it out --- then needed a good sideslip to get it to lock (an old 707 trick)
No names, no pack drill, but there is one aircraft where a particular common nose gear problem only responds to a serious pullup, say 5G (it's limit is 7.5)
Tootle pip!!
FGD135 ---
Fer gaaarrds sake, what kind of angle of bank are you using in turns in the circuit.
And what kind of loads do you think the gear linkages take in normal taxying around a paddock, or some of the lousy sealed surfaces we operate off.
Psycho's the man with the answer.