Airbus A320 landing gear: a closer look

Three landing gear assemblies

In a photograph of an entire aircraft, the landing gear can look like little more than a few wheels. A close-up reveals a more complex assembly: a strut, braces, retraction mechanisms and hydraulic lines.

The A320 has two main landing gear assemblies beneath the wings and a nose gear assembly beneath the forward fuselage. In the usual configuration, each has two wheels. That is not universal across all A320s: Airbus documentation also describes a version with four-wheel main gear assemblies.

The struts contain shock absorbers. Braces and mechanical locks secure the main gear in its extended position. The nose gear helps steer the aircraft on the ground.

Retraction and braking

After takeoff, the main gear retracts inward toward the aircraft centerline, while the nose gear retracts forward into its bay in the fuselage. A photograph taken from below can reveal these different directions of movement.

In the usual two-wheel configuration, the main wheels have carbon multidisc brakes. The braking system uses electrical control and hydraulic actuation, with anti-skid protection.

From the aircraft to the detail

For a photographer, these components offer several distinct subjects: the whole aircraft with its gear extended, the nose gear, and details of a main gear assembly. Together, they explain more than a single dramatic landing photograph. When comparing images, retain the aircraft model and registration: photographs of different aircraft or configurations should not be presented as successive moments from one flight.