For experimental and homebuilt aircraft kit manufacturers, landing gear design requires more than selecting the lightest material or the component with the highest strength rating. The complete system must manage the forces created during touchdown while protecting the airframe, supporting predictable ground handling, and giving builders components they can confidently install and maintain.
That becomes especially important when an aircraft may experience firm touchdowns, repeated training cycles, uneven runway surfaces, or side loads. The right combination of gear-leg material, tires, axles, wheels, brakes, and attachment structure helps the aircraft handle these real-world conditions without adding unnecessary weight.
A landing transfers energy through the tires, wheels, axles, gear legs, attachment points, and airframe. As descent speed increases, that energy rises quickly, making firm landings more demanding on the entire system.
Shock absorbing landing gear may use gear-leg flex, tire deflection, elastomers, or fluid-based struts to manage landing energy and reduce peak forces. The wheels, brakes, axles, and hydraulic components must work with the selected gear design, expected loads, and operating conditions.
For kit manufacturers, the goal is a compatible system that manages landing forces without adding unnecessary weight or concentrating stress in one component.
Published component ratings help kit manufacturers narrow their options, but each rating measures something different.
These values should be evaluated alongside aircraft weight distribution, tire size, axle and bearing requirements, braking configuration, and intended operating conditions. Landing gear load ratings provide guidance, but the complete aircraft design must determine whether each component is suitable.
Material selection affects landing gear weight, strength, fatigue resistance, inspection needs, and long-term durability. The best choice depends on the aircraft’s expected loads, operating conditions, and overall landing gear design.
7075-T6 aluminum offers a strong balance of low weight and high strength, making it useful for components where reducing weight is a priority. Heat-treated alloy steel is heavier but provides excellent strength and toughness for parts exposed to concentrated loads and wear. Composite materials can also reduce weight and be engineered for specific stiffness requirements, but they require carefully controlled manufacturing and clear inspection guidance.
No single material is right for every aircraft. Kit manufacturers should evaluate the complete system, including the gear geometry, attachment points, wheels, axles, brakes, expected landing conditions, and maintenance requirements. Read more about balancing the weight and durability of aircraft landing gear materials.
Once the gear-leg design is established, the wheels, brakes, axles, and hydraulic components must work within the same system.
Matco ALS offers components across a range of capacities and configurations, helping kit manufacturers compare wheel loads, brake energy, torque, bearing sizes, and installation requirements. Final selections should account for aircraft weight, tire size, runway conditions, hydraulic pressure, and available clearance.
Contact our team to discuss reliable wheel, brake, axle, and hydraulic component options for the kit aircraft you are developing or manufacturing.
