Main landing gear

[H H]

Does any one know, how many knots of speed one would loose in a 337G if you fly with your main gear down (like if it was a fix gear) and if it is recomended ????????

[hharney]

Dad flew the 66 B model around for several months after the main gear collapsed on landing. Waiting on parts, he had the gear locked down in place and duct taped the gear doors shut and used the plane. If I remember it was about a 8 or 10 MPH reduction. I don't think Cessna ever reported the gear down loss speed. You're not the first person to ask this either. There is a Skymaster out there that was for sale that someone had fixed the gear down. Not sure why but I guess we all have our reasons for doing things.

[billsheila]

When I had my frustrating gear fiasco two years ago (gear doors would stay open on retraction of gear) my mechanics were still scratching their heads and I needed to use the plane. So I flew a few missions this way...on departure (my mechanics keep a radio scanning in their shop) I called out "Cessna 336 N2131X departing runway 32"...they got a laugh but also got the point that I wanted my 337 back!!

Your numbers are right on the money, it cost me about 10 MPH as I recall.

Bill

[Todd Gessel]

I flew my 337G from Beaumont, Texas to Phoenix with the gear out and it seemed to reduce cruise about 8 knots for me.

[rick bell]

there are a lot more out there who were scratching their heads trying to figure out
why the fat lady was going slow--- and they you would hear OH CRAP the gear is still
down #$%$^&

[H H]

Thank all of you very much for the information.

I am planing to buy a 337, but then every one said that the landing gear this and that, so if it can be modify I will not belong to the club of: has and will forget to bring the landing gear down.

And 10 Knots is not is not that bad.

Thank each one of you again

H H

[hharney]

Actually, when you better understand the system and get the comfort feeling for the airplane you will be sorry you fixed the gear down. Just my opinion after flying one for 40 years.

[Ernie Martin]

I agree with Herb, for several reasons, some not so obvious.

The issue of forgetting to lower the gear is an issue mostly during the transition phase, where protocol and procedures need to be remembered. Afterwards, it's sort of automatic. For me it's now habitual, impossible to forget.

10 knots doesn't seem like much now, but after you've had the airplane for a while, you'll want those 10 knots, you'll want to cut the time it takes to get there.

In an engine-out emergency, not having the extra drag of the gear might save your butt.

And finally, cost. If you would normally fly 100 hours per year in the regular Skymaster, you'll now fly about 108 hours to get to the same places, using about 160 more gallons, or an increase of roughly $650 per year in operating costs.

Ernie

[DBrugg]

Rumor has it, if you have a pod on you not only protect the belly but both props as well.
I believe the pods speed factor is -3 knots.
Of course the cost of the pod is the price to be paid in error.
I've considered doing this but I'd have to move my AC and I really want to keep flying retractables vs fixed anyway.
________
Arizona marijuana dispensaries

[Vanmac]

I've been flying my P337 for 2 1/2 years and I have had some landing gear and gear door issues. However, after taking the following steps those issues have stopped:

1) I check the hydraulic fluid reservoir before every flight.
2) Then I pull the circuit breaker to the landing gear motor and manually open the gear doors and check for anything obvious like leaking actuators.
3) I do not operate the gear over 120 knots.
4) I am straight and level during operation of the gear.
5) If there are gusting winds or over 15 knot winds I will reduce speed further before operation.

BTW, sometimes I have had the circuit breaker pop when operating the doors while banking or exceeding the speeds above. Reset the breaker after leveling.

[hharney]

http://www.aso.com/listings/spec/Vie...True&dealerid=

There ya go. Fixed gear late model.

[H H]

Most of my 1600 hrs. have been in a PA 32-300 and the landing gear is fix as you all know, but it maybe just getting to know the landing gear system as you say.

Again, thank you all of you for the advice, for now I can look for one and save the modification money.

H H

[markmunro]

Does anyone know who owns or where this 337 with fixed gear is?

[FMild]

Maybe this is a dumb question, but isn't the limit in the manual 140 knots for gear down? That makes the penalty more like 20-25 knots, if you cruise at 160-165.

[billsheila]

I would expect that this speed limitation is not relative to the gear itself, but rather the big rear doors in motion, the speed brakes that they are. If the gear were down and welded, and the doors closed (front door removed), I expect you wouldn't have any issues exceeding 140 MPH. Think of a Cessna Caravan...the main gear springs look very similar actually between the Skymaster and the Caravan and with the Caravan they are always out there in the wind. On the Skymaster, however, whether any of this would be legal is another matter, of course.