"Corky Scott" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 07:44:26 -0700, "Rich S."
wrote:

SNIP
This is most often the result of undamped (shocks with little or no
oil in them anymore) coil spring suspensions. Leaf spring suspensions
actually have some damping built into the several leafs and the action
between them when the suspension gets deflected so they will damp down
motion a lot quicker than a coil spring.

Bungee cords also have a certain amount of damping effect so you don't
often see that type of landing gear with shocks too.

I'm guessing that the undamped wittman springs and leaf springs work
because the landing gear has very little unsprung weight compared to
automobile suspensions, and also because the suspensions are
relatively short and fairly stiff.

SNIP
Corky Scott

Don't forget the scrubbing action of the tires on the surface - that
provides a dampening effect. The sideways scrubbing (outward and inward)
tends to dampen the effect if the wheels remain in contact with the surface.
If the rebound causes you to go airborne, you have another chance to make a
landing. :-) IIRC, the wheels tended to slide more easily on grass than on
a hard surface. Morning dew seemed best of all if recollection serves me
right.

Michael Pilla