|
I have had several students in single engine airplanes who were afraid to raise the gear in a Cessna 210. They wanted to do the training with the gear down, on the premise that the gear might fail with use. This is somewhat akin to never wanting to bend one's knees on the off chance they might wear out, or the ancient hang gliding counsel that one should never fly higher than one cares to fall.
Raise the gear.
Yes, landing gear does fail. The Cessna gear is no exception. Like all things mechanical, however, and like all aircraft systems, there are procedures for handling failures.
The Cessna gear system found on the Skymaster has several potential fixes, from replenishing fluid in flight to pumping gear down by hand, to shutting the system off to cool. Knowing the system is the secret to getting comfortable with the system. Not knowing the system, not knowing any system, inspires distrust and fear. Get to know your airplane.
|