On the DC-10 and MD-10/11 - when extending the gear, why do the main gear doors close very slowly?
On retraction they close pretty quickly - is there some reason (aerodynamic/hydraulic perhaps?) for them to be so slow on extension?
Gear extension in the air:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDgvWa-EbbE
Gear swing on the ground, showing rapid door closure on retraction, slow on extension:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ak6K_xhQMM
DC-10/MD-11 Main Gear Extension
...I watched c-beams glitter in the dark by the Tanhauser Gate....
Re: DC-10/MD-11 Main Gear Extension
I think it has to do with hydraulic pressure. On extension the system is still driving the gear down while it is closing the doors. On retraction the system has stopped applying force to the gear when the doors are moving. Also keep in mind when comparing hangar operation vs. regular, the hangar is using a cart which may not supply as much volume of fluid quickly.
Re: DC-10/MD-11 Main Gear Extension
There may be restrictors in the gear down circuit to ensure the gear is deploying slower. With retraction you want the gear coming up quickly to reduce drag; extending that's not as important and your actuators may have a better mechanical advantage at full down. You don't want to slam the gear into the stops. And if the doors are plumbed on the same lines as the gear, they'll move slowly too.
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Re: DC-10/MD-11 Main Gear Extension
Has to do with different areas on cylinder for retract and for extension on both sides.
Rgds
Rgds
“An AME, with just a Mechanic Role”, as per one of our pilots
"A NO" is a positive answer., "DON'T KNOW" is not. My Tutor (a wise man)
"A NO" is a positive answer., "DON'T KNOW" is not. My Tutor (a wise man)
Re: DC-10/MD-11 Main Gear Extension
I suspect the diffference is the extension is basically free falll with using hydraulic pressure to lock them in the down position, where as "gear up" is all the 3000 PSI working in sequence to unlock, and retract the gear. Not sure that the hydraulic mule really emulates the exact same conditions as an in flight cycle would. Just an educated guess...
Re: DC-10/MD-11 Main Gear Extension
DH106 wrote:
Wow, that is a heckuva late extension of the gear on approach! Seems like they fully locked seconds before crossing the fence.
I thought that most SOPs dictate an approach be stabilized be stabilized (loc/GS established if necessary, Vref set (plus a few knots), flaps configured for landing, and gear down and locked.
Guess not for FedEx?
"..your eyes will be forever turned skyward, for there.." yeah we know the DaVinci quote. But GA is so dang expensive these days! 