Landing gear, tyres and brakes

(Airframe, engines and systems: landing gear, tyres and brakes)

The undercarriage takes the whole weight of the aeroplane, absorbs the shock of landing, and steers and stops you on the ground. It is also where a lot of pilots come unstuck, since ground handling is where mishandling shows up at once. Knowing how the gear, tyres and brakes work tells you why a tailwheel aircraft swings, why you check tyre creep, and why you must not ride the brakes.