The purpose of the normal landing gear extension/retraction system is to ___________________________.

• A. Extend and retract the landing gear and retract gear doors
• B. Extend and retract the landing gear and extend doors only
• C. Extend and retract the landing gear and all gear doors
• D. Operate as a back up to the primary hydraulic system

Answer: (A)

The normal landing gear extension/retraction system is all about moving the gear and its doors as a coordinated pair. When you lower the gear, the doors open to give the wheels room to extend and to prevent the doors from blocking the wheels. When you raise the gear, the doors retract and seal the wheel wells to reduce drag and protect the gear area in flight. This coordinated action is why the system’s purpose is to extend and retract the landing gear and retract the gear doors. The other options either leave out the door movement or describe a backup system that only comes into play if the primary hydraulic system fails, which isn’t the normal function.