View Full Version : Landing Gear - A380
One9iner
30th Mar 2009, 18:46
Can anyone explain why the main gear on the A380 hang in a horizontal line before touch down, even slightly angled down at the front, where as the gear on most other (multiple wheel main gear) aircraft have the wheel further back hanging lower? - Hope that makes sense?
What are the ad/disadvantages of either system?
Thanks in advance
http://www.netcomposites.co.uk/images/a380_firstflightLANDING_0405.jpghttp://www.virginmedia.com/microsites/technology/slideshow/vm-tech-gallery/aircraft/img_5.jpg
Rainboe
30th Mar 2009, 19:21
It's the position that the landing gear is designed to retract into the wheel bay- nothing more!
One9iner
30th Mar 2009, 19:31
Gosh... wouldn't have thought that was the reason..
Thanks Rainboe
One9iner
30th Mar 2009, 19:37
Thanks Cosmos. I should have conducted a search myself!
CV880
30th Mar 2009, 21:12
This question pops up periodically relating to different aircraft. Invariably the angle of dangle of the bogie is, as Rainboe says, to enable the gear to fit into the most compact and ideally located wheelwell possible.
There are a couple of exceptions that come to mind. The A330/340 employs a "rocking bogie" (to use Airbus terminology) to improve aft fuselage ground clearance. As the main gear retracts it shortens and as a result of the shortening action the tilt is removed so that the bogie lies along the longitudinal axis when in the wheelwell. The 777 bogie changes from a nose up tilt with the gear down to a nose down tilt on retraction to fit into the wheelwell.
On a 747 the wing gear bogie goes into the wheelwell across the longitudinal axis resulting in a much shorter wheelwell than if it had been along the longitudinal axis.
The 767 and A310 (and Convair 990) all featured a nose down tilt to the bogie whereas their sisters the 757, A300 and Convair 880 either had nose up bogie tilt or the bogie was at right angles to the main leg.
Rainboe
31st Mar 2009, 21:19
Forget the wheels, it's the behaviour of the A380 ailerons that is very bizarre. There is a youtube video of them that is absolutely extraordinary.
One9iner
1st Apr 2009, 08:41
not sure about that Cosmos ...
check this video at around the 50 second mark
YouTube - Airbus A380 Takeoff from inside cabin (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Spkeo-4kQOY&feature=related)