Main landing gear

[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