There are several types of undercarriage used in aviation, depending on the type of aircraft and its intended use.
Conventional Landing Gear
Also known as “tailwheel” or “taildragger” landing gear, this type of undercarriage has two main wheels located towards the front of the aircraft and a smaller wheel or skid at the tail. This design was common in older aircraft and is still used in some small planes and vintage aircraft.
Tricycle Landing Gear
This is the most common type of landing gear used in modern aircraft, especially commercial airliners. It has two main wheels at the front of the aircraft and a smaller wheel at the tail. The tricycle landing gear is more stable and easier to control during takeoff and landing than the conventional landing gear.
Tandem Landing Gear
This type of undercarriage has two or more sets of wheels in a row, one behind the other. It is commonly used in military aircraft, as it provides greater stability and can handle rough terrain.
Floats
Floats are used on seaplanes and amphibious aircraft, and consist of two large, buoyant pontoons attached to the bottom of the aircraft. They allow planes to take off and land on water.
Skis
Skis are used on aircraft that operate in snowy or icy conditions, such as bush planes in Alaska or Canada. They replace the wheels or floats and allow the aircraft to land and take off on snow or ice.
Retractable Landing Gear
This type of landing gear can be retracted into the aircraft during flight to reduce drag and improve performance. It is commonly used in commercial airliners and some military aircraft.