Aircraft landing gear shortening apparatus

A method of shortening aircraft front landing gear apparatus during retraction thereof into a storage bay, wherein said landing gear comprises front landing gear shortening apparatus including:

• outerbody housing means having a closed upper end and an open lower end and being pivotably mounted at said upper end thereof to the aircraft fuselage;
• piston means slidably contained within said outerbody housing means and having a landing wheel mounted onto a free end thereof protruding from said lower end of said outerbody housing means;
• hydraulic actuator means contained within said outerbody housing means and operative, in response to application thereto of a hydraulic control pressure, to at least partially withdraw said free end of said piston means within said outerbody housing means producing a shortening motion of said piston means, when the landing gear is not loaded;
• interlocking means attached to said outerbody housing means at said lower end thereof and having a limiting cam whose position is adjustable in response to said shortening motion of said piston means;
• and
• a foldable side brace pivotably extending from the aircraft fuselage and engaging said interlocking means for governing movement of said outerbody housing means during a retraction motion of the landing gear into a storage bay,
• adjustment of said limiting cam in a clearance position upon completion of a predetermined shortening motion of said piston means enabling completion of said retraction motion of the landing gear,
• said method comprising the steps of:
• at least partially retracting the landing gear via a mechanical linkage;
• hydraulically shortening the landing gear during said step of at least partially retracting, and while the landing gear is not loaded;
• mechanically limiting continued retraction;
• sensing completion of a predetermined landing gear shortening motion;
• removing said mechanical interference once completion of said predetermined shortening motion is sensed;
• and
• completing the retraction of the landing gear into the storage bay upon removal of said mechanical interference.