Tilting landing gear systems and methods

Abstract

Systems and methods for mechanically rotating an aircraft about its center-of-gravity are disclosed. The system comprises a landing gear having a nose gear and a main gear whose respective hydraulic nose and main cylinders are hydraulically interconnected by a valve. Changing the length of the nose cylinder generates a proportional, and opposite, change in the length of the main cylinder, and vice-versa. When the valve is closed, the nose gear is in a lowered position and the main gear is in a raised position and a fuselage of the aircraft is level with the ground. When the valve is open, the nose gear is in a raised position, the main gear is in a lowered position and the fuselage of the aircraft is rotated to a positive angle-of-attack with respect to the ground. A method for controlling the relative positions of the nose gear and main gear is also disclosed.