Why Aircraft Undercarriage is called as Landing Gear?

Question

Why Aircraft Undercarriage is called as Landing Gear?

Answer 1

Because its primary function is to absorb the shock of landing.

For just supporting the aircraft on the ground and taxiing, you could use skateboard wheels or castors since planes are light and move on smooth surfaces.  But the gear of an aircraft is built robustly with shock absorbing qualities specifically for landing.

Besides, 'undercarriage' sounds too British.

Answer 2

Read this excellent article:

http://aviationearth.com/Theory/landingg...

Answer 3

Because its the "gear" thats used to land on.

Without it you'd be doing more of a crash than a landing.  But at least your stopping distance would be short.

Answer 4

simply because theyre extended when the aircraft is about to land,,,,,,,    otherwise theyre retracted all the time

Answer 5

I have no idea why it is called 'undercarriage'.  'Landing Gear' just sounds right.  I suspect that you can use the terms interchangeably and everyone would know what you are talking about.

The reason that 'Landing Gear' are used on airplanes is to greatly reduce the power required to taxi.  Otherwise the aircraft would just have to scoot on the ground instead of roll.

Answer 6

Like many  in aviation, it is an earlier nautical expression.  It was the gear used in beaching and then landing a vessel.

Answer 7

Good, thought provoking question.  Marks answer also inspired some extra thoughts, although in the old Navy, Landing Gear would have been, kit and paraphernalia taken ashore.  Ships were hauled by beaching at high tide.  Small boats were hauled on shore, perhaps on rollers for repeated usage.

The first commercial Intercontinental flights were performed by Sea Planes.  Some think this is the origin of the word, 'Air Port', as opposed to Air Field.  The amphibians did require special gear for beaching and coming ashore.  Some were attached when required, (Marlin PBM), others extended from the fuselage, (Catalina).

What is considered the 'First' Landing Gear was created by Claus Greve of, Cleveland Pneumatic Tool Co, now called the Goodrich Landing Gear Company. http://ech.case.edu/ech-cgi/article.pl?i...

This was an adaption from the 'Gruss Air Spring' created for the automotive market.

'Carriage' is a common name used for wheeled assemblies with some form of suspension. originally leaf-springs.  I believe it would be more commonly used in British, as opposed to American, terminology as they tend to stick to tradition where as American speech is always open to new ideas.

Good Question!