C-97 "Angel of Deliverance" Progress

7/18/2007

Landing Gear Retraction test.

Several Foundation Maintenance volunteers gathered in historic Hangar B at Floyd Bennett Field in NY to continue our work on Boeing C-97G 52-2718's initial airworthiness inspection.  This particular day saw the C-97 up on jacks with landing gear tests and emergency extension training for some of our crew.

Pictures by Kevin Kearney

Setting the jacks.  We used 6 of them! It took some coordination to keep the airplane level as she went up.

And she's just high enough to conduct the tests.

Nose gear retraction

Up she goes!

Right main gear fully retracted, and looking in, you can see there's not much room in there for stowaways!

And there you have it!

It takes 11 seconds for the main gear to retract, but, with the help of gravity, only about 3.5 seconds to extend,

and that's without a slipstream. Man that's fast!

VIDEO OF GEAR TEST AND EMERGENCY EXTENSION TRAINING

NOVEMBER 17, 2007