How do you practice your 90-day currency?

[n86121]

On hydraulic system gear,
While taxiing, or on ground, cycle gear handle to DOWN.
Then observe how many seconds it takes to return to locked down position.

When you cycle gear handle down, it goes through full cycle.
Pressurized system
Triggers various mysterious cycling valves
Then when it hits as I recall 1200 or 1500 psi, it pops up back to gear down position.

If warm out, will cycle in 3-5 secs
If fluid is low, (or very very cold) will take more than 10 secs to pop back
If in doubt, do it again. No extra charge.
If any leaks, it will take even longer (or not at all).

All while safely on the ground!

I keep a gal of the right stuff in my tie down box
As well as squatter can.
Every so often just top off reservoir

NOTE:

Whenever the system is opened for any maintenance
Cycle the gear a bunch of times - in air or on jacks
Top off
Cycle a bunch more times
Top off

Wash rinse and repeat until it stops needing any more.

[CO_Skymaster]

Thanks everyone for the replays. I was trusting that the gear would cycle once in the air, but I'm glad to see there are other options to test the gear or see the hydraulic fluid levels before flight. This is good information.

[mshac]

FYI: The information the Big Cheese from DC posted two entries before this is only correct for those Skymasters with the engine driven hydraulic system. Those of us with the later model Skymasters with the electro hydraulic system do not use this test.