CF104 Posted 8 hours ago Posted 8 hours ago (edited) Hello, I have been making observations on the landing gear retraction/extension times as compared to the only reference I have that gives the actual transit time. This reference is NAVAIR 01-F14A-1, 1 JUNE 1972, Page 1-173 under NORMAL OPERATIONS. In this chapter it states that the "The normal transition time for operation of the landing gear is 9 seconds.". This reference in NAVAIR 01-F14AAA-1 (15 MAY 1995) and NAVAIR 01-F14AAP-1 (1 AUG 2001) has been removed and replaced with the following CAUTION: "Unless attempting fast-cycle troubleshooting for gear that indicates unsafe nosegear down, transition light illuminated, wait for gear to completely transition (15 seconds with normal hydraulic pressure) before recycling the landing gear handle. When fast-cycling the gear handle, the pilot must immediately return gear handle to down position to avoid damaging the main landing gear doors and inducing a possible combined hydraulic or brake system failure.". The sim actual timed retraction/extension as taken from the cockpit indications are 16 seconds in both the A and B. The external modelling is 19-20 seconds for extension and 16 seconds for retraction. I get the impression that the CAUTION statement has been mistaken as the actual transit time. Looking at several videos of Tomcat departures, the gear is definitely retracted within the 9 seconds as stated in the first reference. In my aircraft maintenance experience, I see this caution as derived from operational experience and does not reflect the actual transition time. I feel that the 6 second buffer from the "The normal transition time for operation of the landing gear is 9 seconds." to the 15 second CAUTION statement, is there to prevent the aircrew from recycling the gear too soon. This isn't a show stopper except that the gear is very easy to overspeed on departures with the 16 second retraction time as currently modelled. Regards, John Edited 4 hours ago by CF104 grammar, clarification 1
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