A4- all very well disengaging the gear from operating above a certain speed, but many will remember the 727 that 'departed' at altitude and fell into a freefall dive. Apart from extending the speedbrakes, the Captain extended the gear (at enormous speed) to do anything to increase drag. Sure enough, the gear doors were torn off and bits of the aeroplane bent, but they survived, and I suspect maybe owe it to the gear. Airbuses are obviously great aeroplanes, but I wonder sometimes at an aeroplane that knows better than a pilot what to allow!
And I didn't even get around to the Habsheim incident!
http://www.chez.com/crashdehabsheim/ (video du crash)