REFLECTOR:Gear Speed

[Dave Black]

Fred,

> If one notices
> the gear is not totally down will not a jerk of the control
> stick on the vertical axis help jerk the gear into place?

It's certainly worth a try! The "G" force <might> snap it into position. But
if such a maneuver is required, it's a signal that you most likely have a weak
gas strut and are at high risk for the linkage coming unlocked during landing.
After an emergency gear deployment, switching the dump valve back to the
normal position can help hold the nose gear overcenter. 

If you observe problems with the gear locking (and are able to land without
incident) please check into the cause before further flight. 

Just as with the Jeep, our gas struts will be considerably weaker during
winter. It may be that we simply can not rely on the gas strut to push the
linkage overcenter and hold it there when it's cold outside.

> If the gear clears the well how much help does the wind at 80
> mph play on pushing the gear into position.  

The wind should push the nose gear 95% of the way down. But I don't see how
the wind could actually force the linkage overcenter. It certainly could not
hold it there. Only the gas strut or the hydraulics can do that. 


Dave Black
Shortwing RG