Why don't aerobatic aircraft have retractable undercarriages?
I'm starting on some aerobatics soon in a Citabria and was thinking about why most aerobatic aircraft don't have retractable undercarriages.
Of course, some do, but many more don't. I would have thought that, especially for the aircraft used in races like the Red Bull Air Race, not having an undercarriage hanging out would drastically reduce drag and allow them to go faster, or closer to the gates.
On the other hand, the weight impact of the system might outweigh the benefits, or the forces involved preclude holding the gear up during high G maneuvers.
Does anyone else have any other thoughts?