Coil Over Struts on Airplanes?

[Eric Lehto]

Random question for the brain trust....

Does anyone know of an plane that uses actual springs and oil shocks on its landing gear rather than the typical oleos? Just a little research project I'm working on. Nothing of real significance.

 

[Michael A]

Not spring and oil but I know a lot of tailwheel a have a bungee cord setup as a shock absorber

 

[GeorgeC]

Luscombes have a spring and dashpot thing.

 

[Eric Lehto]

Thanks guys. Turns out that Aeronca's use hydraulic-spring struts, in case anyone was interested.

 

[Craig]

Stinson L-5’s and 108’s use a coil spring and a piston in fluid arrangement.

 

[Dan Thomas]

Stinson L-5’s and 108’s use a coil spring and a piston in fluid arrangement.

Older Maules did, too.

Coil springs that are strong enough are heavy, which is probably why Piper and Cessna used air or nitrogen in their struts. Cheaper, too.

 

[Kenny Phillips]

Random question for the brain trust....

Does anyone know of an plane that uses actual springs and oil shocks on its landing gear rather than the typical oleos? Just a little research project I'm working on. Nothing of real significance.

It's done quite often in custom bush planes.

 

[ktup-flyer]

It's done quite often in custom bush planes.

Yep. Not coilovers, but they are valved shocks. I've seen coilovers on tailwheels

 

[Dana]

Many homebuilts use springs (just springs, no gas portion) instead of the bungees used in earlier designs.