Body mounted shrinking landing gear

An aircraft comprising:

• a frame forming a fuselage that has a longitudinal length and a lateral width;
• wings coupled to the frame;
• and
• a landing gear coupled to the frame for stowage within the fuselage, the landing gear including
• a truck support strut having a first end and a second end separated by a longitudinal axis,
• a landing gear retract mechanism coupling the truck support strut to the frame, so that the first end of the truck support strut is suspended from the frame by the landing gear retract mechanism,
• at least one wheel support arm rotatably coupled to the second end of the truck support strut, the at least one wheel support arm having at least one wheel pivot axis,
• a carrier member coupled to the landing gear retract mechanism and to the truck support strut so that the landing gear retract mechanism drives the carrier member along the longitudinal axis of the truck support strut, and
• at least one shock absorber, each of the at least one shock absorber being coupled to both a respective one of the at least one wheel support arm and the carrier member so that movement of the carrier member along the longitudinal axis by the landing gear retract mechanism effects rotation of the at least one wheel support arm relative to the truck support strut so that the at least one wheel support arm rotates towards or away from the first end of the truck support strut.