landing gear

aviation

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Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

Landing gear is the part of an airplane or spacecraft that supports its weight when it is on land or water. This essential component allows aircraft to take off and land safely.1

There are different configurations for landing gear:
* Conventional gear: Two main wheels under the front of the fuselage and a tailwheel.
* Tricycle gear: A single nose wheel and two main wheels located further back.2
* Bicycle gear: Two main undercarriage assemblies in the fuselage with wingtip protector wheels.2

Large aircraft often use multiple wheels arranged in bogies to distribute weight and fit within the fuselage when retracted. Some aircraft are designed for water landings using floats or boat-like hulls, while others are amphibious, capable of landing on both land and water. Aircraft carriers utilize reinforced landing gear with tail hooks for catapult launches and arrested landings.2

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

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airplane
Takeoff and landing gear
Another means of categorizing aircraft is by the type of gear used for takeoff and landing. In a conventional aircraft the gear consists of two primary wheels under the forward part of the fuselage and a tailwheel. The opposite configuration is called a…
Read More
Another means of categorizing aircraft is by the type of gear used for takeoff and landing. In a conventional aircraft the gear consists of two primary wheels under the forward part of the fuselage and a tailwheel. The opposite configuration is called a…
Read More