Aircraft landing gear

A method of distributing landing gear loads in an aircraft including a landing gear, comprising:

• a main strut, the main strut being connected to a first attachment point located on the aircraft;
• an inboard sidestay inboard of the main strut, the inboard sidestay having a first end connected to the main strut, the inboard sidestay being connected at a second end to a second attachment point located on the aircraft;
• and an outboard sidestay outboard of the main strut, the outboard sidestay having a first end connected to the main strut, the outboard sidestay being connected at a second end to a third attachment point located on the aircraft,
• wherein, in use when the landing gear is in the deployed configuration, the connection of the first end of each of the inboard and outboard sidestays allows for movement of the first end vertically relative to each part of the main strut.

A method of retracting an aircraft landing gear, comprising:

• a main strut, the main strut being connected to a first attachment point located on an aircraft;
• an inboard sidestay inboard of the main strut, the inboard sidestay being connected at a first end to the main strut and at a second end to a second attachment point located on the aircraft;
• and
• an outboard sidestay outboard of the main strut, the outboard sidestay being connected at a first end to the main strut and at a second end to a third attachment point located on the aircraft, the method comprising the steps of rotating the main strut about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft;
• and
• wherein the first end of each of the inboard and outboard sidestays slides up relative to each part of the main strut as the strut rotates.