"Peter Stickney" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Mary Shafer writes:
On 4 Jul 2003 19:05:44 -0700, (Elliot Wilen) wrote:

In another online forum, it has been claimed that on the F-18, F-14,
F-4, and possibly F-8, A-7, A-6, and A-4, all the landing gear doors
stay open when the gear are extended. While typically (or at least in
most other military jets), some of the landing gear doors open only
during extension/retraction, and are closed while the gear are
extended.

The F-111 MLG doors open, the gear extends, and the doors shut.
Mostly because otherwise these huge doors would be hanging out being
speedbrakes.

Well, on the 'Vark, the huge door _is_ the speedbrake. The F-111's
maingear retracting sequence is a wonder to behold.

F-4 doors stay open. So do F-15 and F-16 and B-52 doors. Ditto
YF-12, SR-71, T-33, F-104, X-15, F-18, CV-990, A-7, F-8, KingAir,
B-747, B-1, B-2, F-117, B-57, and U-2. Also Lear 24 and 25. And the
Orbiter. These are just the ones I've seen and can remember.

I'd say it's not most, military or otherwise.

It seems to depend on who's making the airplane. North American
products (P-51,various F-86s/FJs, the F-100, etc. have doors over the
wheel wells that are normally closed except when cycling the gear.
Boeing airliners since the 367-80 are the same way (Except for the
737, no wheel well doors), iirc. Some others may have, as well. I
don't remember about DC-8s & 9s.

--
Pete Stickney

A point of note on the P51 at least, is that when you parked the airplane,
(especially on a hot concrete ramp) you ALWAYS wanted to pull the emergency
fairing door release handle, which eased the pressure in the hydraulic
system and allowed the doors to open and hang. If you ever see a civilian
owned 51 parked on a hot ramp somewhere with the doors up, you will probably
see leaking hydraulic fluid under it ,as well as it's rich but not too
bright pilot walking around with a rather large bill from Aeroquip Hose
Inc., sticking out of his flight suit pocket!!!! :-))))
Dudley Henriques
International Fighter Pilots Fellowship
Commercial Pilot/CFI
Retired