Distressingly easy on a Std Cirrus.

wrote:
On Jun 5, 7:54 pm, Sarah Anderson wrote:
JJ Sinclair wrote:

...

PS, I have seen a pilot retract the gear when asked to do a control
check.........it can happen!
Interesting, thanks for that detail. I've always wondered if it's possible to retract the gear
with weight on the wheel - that is, on the ground. One'd think it possible to design an over-center
mechanism that would make that impossible, or at least *really* hard to do.
But it is experiment I've never been willing to try.

Sarah

I have tried it. With the plane assembled, but still in the 'cradle',
extend the undercarriage, then lower the cradle until the weight is
all on the wheel, but it can only drop an inch (or less). Get in, and
try to retract the gear. In the Speed Astir, I can't do it with a
very firm pull on the gear handle.