Landing gear extender

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Landing gear extenders installed on a Cessna 140
Landing gear extenders installed on a Cessna 140

Landing gear extenders are devices used on conventional or tailwheel-equipped aircraft. They move the wheels forward of the landing gear leg by 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cm).

The installation of landing gear extenders is almost always the result of operational experience with an aircraft design that shows a problem with the landing gear – when the brakes are applied heavily the aircraft has a tendency to go up on its nose and strike the propeller on the ground. The landing gear extenders move the aircraft’s centre of gravity aft-wards relative to the main wheels thus reducing this tendency.

Landing gear extenders are commonly seen installed on Cessna 120 and 140 airplanes.