On Sep 22, 12:33*pm, Brad wrote:

I'm leaning more and more for a rigid strut...

I strongly recommend against. The rigid gear will apply much stronger
impulses into the structure that supports the undercarriage pivots.
The landing gear support structure is not sized for that. As others
noted, it will work fine until that landing when it doesn't, and then
it will be messy.

The Schreder oleo strut gear is about the best bang for the buck and
for the pound there is in energy storage (springiness) and shock
absorption. When properly assembled and maintained, it is trouble-free
for decades at a time. The parts are either off-the-shelf items, or
things that any decent A&P or TIG welder can fotch up in an afternoon.

As others note, there are good and bad examples in the field. On the
leaky ones I've seen, it's been because things are bent or misaligned
so that the pistons are pre-loaded against the sides of the cylinders,
causing scoring and galling. It's easy to know when its set up right;
when the system is assembled sans O-rings the pistons slide in and out
of the cylinders with no appreciable drag. Also, you must check the
condition of the restraint cable at each annual inspection for fraying
or broken strands.

Thanks, Bob K.