REFLECTOR:Gear Speed

[John Dibble]

Richard@Riley.net wrote:

> At 02:27 PM 12/26/03 -0600, John Dibble wrote:
>
>
>> Scott Baker wrote:
>>
>>> The air stream doesn't offer a lot of force against the split nose 
>>> gear doors.
>>
>> How do you know this?  Have you ever measured how much force there is?
>
>
> We measured the force on the forward gear doors on Berkut, which are 
> very similar.  At 120 mph it was 12-15 lbs. 

Thank you.  I think 12-15 lbs is significant.  My guess is that the gear 
weighs more.  However, when fully retracted the gas spring also pushes 
up on the gear.  The force of the spring is supposed to be less than the 
gear weight, so the gear will drop if the hydraulic pressure is 
released.  But, perhaps the combined force of the spring and the air 
stream force on the doors is enough to prevent the gear from dropping down.

John