GENERAL
The aircraft has two main landing gear and a steerable nose gear. Normal operation uses right hydraulic system pressure from the engine-driven pump, auxiliary pump or transfer pump. Main gear doors operate hydraulically and the nose gear doors are mechanically linked to the gear.
Lights, warning horn, and voice warnings warn of unsafe gear conditions.
Spray deflectors on both main and nose gear are used to minimize water and slush ingestion during takeoff and landing.
MAIN GEAR
The main gear is locked down by overcenter linkage. After gear retraction, main gear are held up by hydraulically when pressure is 3,000 psi. When pressure decreases to 1,500 psi or less, the main gear rests on the gear doors. The main gear doors operate hydraulically and lock closed when the gear is up to support the retracted gear. The main gear doors also lock closed when the gear is down and will remain fully closed without hydraulic pressure.
NOSE GEAR
The nose gear is locked in both the extented and retracted positions by an overcenter linkage. Strut extension actuates two switches that establish ground or flight modes for electrically operated systems.
LANDING GEAR HANDLE
Due to limited panel space, the landing gear handle is not included in any of the panels. You will need to use the keyboard "G" key or a user programmed button on the joystick to operate the landing gear.
GEAR POSITION LIGHTS
Green and red/unsafe landing gear lights on the center instrument panel show gear status. Each gear has one lens that incorporates both green and red indications.
Green gear lights come on when the landing gear are down and locked.
Red/unsafe lights come on under the following conditions:
- Gear is in unsafe condition.
- Gear in transit.
- Either throttle lever is retarded near idle with gear up and locked.
A GEAR DOOR UNLOCKED light indicates the one or both of the main gear doors are not fully closed.
AURAL WARNINGS
A horn and vocal "Landing gear" warning sound below 210 KIAS if:
Throttle(s) moved to near idle with gear not down and locked. Warnings can be silenced.
Flaps extended beyond 26 degrees with gear not down and locked. Warnings can not be silenced.
The GEAR HORN OFF switch on the pedestal near the throttles is used to silence the aural horn.
ALTERNATE LANDING GEAR EXTENSION
If the right hydraulic system fails, the gear will have to be extended using the alternate gear extension procedure. For sim purposes, pressing the "G" key or a user defined control will extend the gear using the alternate extension. The gear doors require right hydraulic pressure to close, so they will remain open until pressure is restored (exterior model will not show this but the cockpit indications are correct). With no right hydraulic pressure, the gear will not be able to be retracted.
NOSEWHEEL STEERING
The nosewheel is steered hydraulically by the steering wheel or rudder pedals. Left and right hydraulic systems each operate an associated nosewheel steering cylinder. At takeoff, the shift to flight mode disengages steering wheel input and rudder steering and centers the nosewheel for retraction.
BRAKES
Each main gear wheel has multi-disc brake powered from both hydraulic systems. Each brake system has an accumulator to supply pressure if normal hydraulic system pressure fails. The brake hydraulic pressure indicator on the captain's instrument panel has two needles: one for the left brake system pressure and one for the right brake system pressure.
BRAKE WARNINGS
Voice warning "Brakes" sounds if throttles are advanced with the parking brake set.
A WHEEL NOT TURNING light on the center instrument panel comes on if one main gear wheel is turning 20% slower than the average of the others. The light is disabled below 40 knots or in flight.
PARKING BRAKES
A PARKING BRAKES ON annunciator light comes on when brakes are parked. The anti-skid system is inoperative with the parking brakes on.
ANTI-SKID
The anti-skid system modulates hydraulic pressure during maximum braking and prevents tire skidding. Touchdown protection prevents braking prior to main gear spin-up. Anti-skid operates on the ground when speed is above 10 knots. Anti-skid is disables when the gear is up.
Anti-Skid Switch
The anti-skid switch on the overhead panel has OFF and ARM positions. In ARM, detection of a skid above 10 knots signals the affected anti-skid control valve to reduce brake pressure to that wheel. With the switch OFF, there is no anti-skid protection.
Anti-Skid Annunciator Lights
Four annunciator lights monitor anti-skid operation. A single light indicates an anti-skid malfunction and reversion to manual braking in the indicated wheel circuit. All lights come on if the anti-skid switch is off or the entire anti-skid system malfunctions.
Anti-Skid Test Switch
An anti-skid test switch below the anti-skid switch has OFF and TEST positions. With the anti-skid switch in the ARM position, momentary actuation of the switch to TEST makes anti-skid annunciator lights come on. The lights go out when the switch is released.
LANDING GEAR
LOCATION: Main Panel
GEAR DOOR OPEN LIGHT
Indicates main gear doors not fully closed
GEAR LIGHTS
Green - Indicates the landing gear are down and locked.
Red - indicates gear is in unsafe condition; gear in transit; or either throttle lever is retarded near idle with gear up and locked.
LOCATION:
Throttle Quadrant
GEAR HORN OFF SWITCH
Push to silence gear warning and aural voice warning if gear is unsafe for landing. Does not silence warning when gear is not down and locked and flaps are extended more than 26 degrees.
BRAKES
LOCATION: Main Panel
BRAKE PRESSURE INDICATOR
Indicates left and fight brake system hydraulic pressure. When all brake system pressure is exhausted, pressure indicator reads zero.
- indicates parking brakes are set.
ANTI-SKID
LOCATION:
Overhead Panel
ANTI-SKID SWITCH
OFF - Anti-skid system inoperative. Manual braking only
ARM - Arms anti-skid system.
ANTI-SKID TEST SWITCH
Activates test circuit when the anti-skid switch is in ARM. Anti-skid lights come on during test and go out when switch is released.
- Indicates malfunction of anti-skid or specific wheel. All lights come on when
tested, anti-skid switch is off, or system malfunction.
- Indicates a wheel is turning 20% lower than the average of the remaining main
gear wheels.