Benefits of retractable gear plane vs. fixed? Cost difference?

Question

Benefits of retractable gear plane vs. fixed? Cost difference?

Answer 1

Cessna Retractable Landing Gear

Answer 2

fixed gear aircraft dominate the training acft market with their simplicity, stability, affordability.



An originally fixed gear acft, fitted with retracting gear will obviously get better fuel economy, and possibly a speed increase but also a decrease in useful load.

Not all planes are manufactured to be compatible for fixed and retracting gear, and it won't be cheap if you are going to convert fixed into retracting. (or even possible for some models)



for travel, the important thing is that it gets you where you want to go safely. If it's the same plane, retractable landing gear or fixed, you'll get to where you want to go at about the same time, the reduced drag doesn't result in that much extra speed.



for sightseeing and tourism, it really depends on the company, If it's in the back country, perhaps alaska, with rough fields, fixed is probably a better choice since its cheaper, simpler, and safer as in it cannot malfunction or jam.



for transportation of goods, a plane designed for fixed gear operation will carry more, since a retracting gear conversion will add some weight, and reduce useful load.



I've been flying a Cessna C172 since I got my PPL. I would never convert it into retractable gear. (Even if it were possible)

It's just not worth it. It's a lot of money, and it buys me about 4 knots of speed, and an added complication if it jams. Plus all the maintenance hours.



Recently, I did fly a Beechcraft Duke with retractable gear for my multiengine rating. It's just another thing on your checklist to do, plus a few extra seconds to re-trim after they come down. (I still can't nail it, and trim as they come down)



According to the instructor, they quickly check the gear mechanism before and after each flight, and more thoroughly each time they change the tires.

Answer 3

Cessna Cardinal and Cardinal RG are pretty much the same plane except for retractable gear. Piper Cherokee Arrow is a retractable Cherokee. I haven't priced them recently but you can do your own research about pricing. A big expense many people neglect to consider is insurance and maintenance. Retractables cost a lot more. Perhaps you have heard the expression there are only two kinds of retractable pilots, those who have landed gear up and those who will. Retract mechanisms plus pilot error account for a lot of torn up airplanes. In my opinion buy a fixed gear with an extra 50 horsepower. You'll get there almost as fast and save a lot of money on maintenance and insurance.

Answer 4

You are going to pay more for a retractable gear aircraft than you will for a fixed. Having fixed gear hanging under the plane causes a lot of drag on the aircraft. With the retractable you will see a higher cruising speed and less fuel consumption over the fixed gear version of the aircraft. Unfortunately having a retractable gear system means more moving parts, more maintenance and more things that can go wrong with the aircraft. If you are planing on taking long flights and can afford it i would still go with the retractable gear aircraft. If you are a new pilot and are just going to use the aircraft for training the fixed gear plane would probably be best.

Answer 5

TO be honest, that is the dumbest theory I have ever heard. Your theory of them taking off on ice and landing on giant spongy mats would make it much worse. When they would touch down the effect would not be much different than a plane landing on a runway without landing gear. It would be much bumbier, not good leverage/balance, and it would most likely put holes in the plane's fuselauge.

Answer 6

Training:

I think fixed landing gear is better for initial training i.e. PPL because it is one less thing to have to do or think about. It makes the controls more complex. However, if your hoping and aiming to be doing a CPL eventually then I think that it is best to get into the habit of thinking about the landing gear as soon as possible so you get used to it and it becomes fixed into your mind. Its a bit like checking your rear-view mirror on te car before you stop. The instructor is continuously on about it so you don't get into habits of stopping regardless of what is happening around you.



Sightseeing/tourism:

I don't understand how the landing gear could effect this. Please restate.



Maintenance:

I think that either way, you will have to keep maintenance on it. However it would take more care if they were retractable because there are more hydraulics and electronics and nuts/bolts etc.



Travel:

If your referring to speed and tim of the journey then I think that retractable is a lot better because there will be less air resistanceon the aircraft and also the aircraft will be more aerodynamic. This results in less power needed and less fuel needed to keep the aircraft at cruising speed so then less money is spent. Thats just like dominos; it has a knock on effect. each thing effects another.



EDIT:

OK thanks for clearing up.

From inside the aircraft you cant see the landing gear unless its like a cessna 150/152 etc. It doesn't make a difference.You can either be in a Cessna 150 and be able to see the landing gear or be in a Cirrus SR22 and see the wings.

Answer 7

a fixed gear plane is usually lighter because it doesnt have the retract mechanism, but the fixed gear plane will have more drag.



as to which is better, as a trainer fixed gears are better as it is one less thing to worry about for the student pilot when landing.



for maintenance, a fixed gear plane is going to have slightly less maintenance due to not having to deal with the retract mechanism.



for everything else they are about the same either way.

Answer 8

Usually a particular model of airplane is either a retract or it's not.



Training: It's easier and safer to learn to fly in a fixed gear airplane. Retracts are considered "complex" and require additional training and a logbook endorsement.



Travel: Doesn't matter, except in general retracts are a little faster because of the reduced drag.



Sightseeing/tourism: Doesn't matter



Transport: See "travel"



Maintenance: Retracts are more expensive to maintain because they have more moving parts.



Cost: See maintenance. Also purchase price is generally higher, because the planes cost more to begin with.



It's not always the case that retracts are faster. Columbia makes some of the fastest singles, and they have fixed gear.

Answer 9

the gear cannot fail to lower and lock if it is fixed, unlike RG. I actually saw from about 200feet a Cessna 310 land yesterway without the front gear locked, really nice landing btw. but RG gives you better speed.

Answer 10

Particular models can only retract, or not. Like a Cessna 172 factory made can not retract, unless you physically pay and hire your own mechanic to do it, and get it reFAA certified



Benefits: If you are just starting out as a pilot, obviously the less cockpit controls thebetter. Also for the manufacturers, it would add about $500 to a new airplane, plus all of the programming ro do so.



Manufacturing: Either a model is set with them or not, you CANOT change if it is fixed or retractable.



Piper PA-38-No, you probably will NEVER see one with retractable.



Cost Difference: The only cost dfferences might be because of the increased drag, you burn an extra gallon of fuel... Not a major difference.



Training: I would say fixed gear is better, because obviously, if you are training, you don't want to have to worry about the landing gear, along with all of the others. It really depends if you are training to become an advanced pilot, of your first flights...



Travel: Deffinetly retractable because, usually when you travel long distances, the speed, and altitude is generally higher... along with this comes the factor that the gear could become damaged. So I would prefer retractable...



Sightseeing: Fixed gear because generally for sightseeing, you use slower aircraft..... and have more landing opportunites. So fixed gear would be best, because it is just more widely used, and offers more benefitts.



Transport- Deffinetly retractable... going off of travel, usually transport is flown faster, and higher, needing the retractable gear.



Maintence- Fixed gear is easier because all you have to do is air up tires and you are done, while in retractable you have to do that, along with, checking oil pressure, hydraulic pressure, hydraulic pumps, cheking switches to retract...



-Sincerly

Me