On Sat, 28 Oct 2006 10:06:04 -0400, Roy Smith wrote:

In article ,
"Roger (K8RI)" wrote:

In a Bonanza if you get into trouble they
tell you to put the gear down and forget the doors. When the gear goes
down even at pattern speed it feels like some one put the brakes on
although the brakes with those tires don't have that much authority on
the runway. :-))

The best way to slow a retract down is to put the gear down in the air, and
pick it up again in the flare. :-)

I know it works in the air, but I'd as soon pass on trying the other
part:-)) A few years back we had a Mooney come in gear up. He said
it collapsed, but I think it collapsed trying to jack the airplane
back up:-)) At any rate that plane skidded about 2500 feed down the
runway before sliding off into the grass where it quickly stopped. I
don't normally use that much runway without ever touching the brakes.
BTW it was their first flight after the annual.
Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com