[hharney]

With a good search of this forum using the search tab, you may find some of the answers you have cited. Just a suggestion as many gear related questions and situations have been discussed on the forum over the last 20 years.

First let me ask you your reason for questioning the gear system on the Skymaster? As owners and pilots of these great aircraft, we on this forum are little jumpy when folks poke at our bird especially when trying to single it out as being unique to certain "problematic systems"

The retractable landing gear system on any aircraft requires experienced and knowledgable care. All retractable landing gear systems have some unique differences that must be understood before it can be deemed airworthy, ie. after the inspection. Following the Service Manual and thoroughly understanding the system is required to maintain the system. A good, knowledgable A&P/IA is the most important part of this equation but the owner pilot must also know and understand the system. This is with any retractable gear system.

Be cautious of what you hear / are told by those "know it all's" that have not flown, studied, worked or been around these systems. For my experience I can only speak of maybe 2 or 3 systems. All three have some concerns when servicing. All three have a totally different system, ie. engine driven hydraulic, electric driven hydraulic and electric cable push pull system. There are lots more systems out there but I am only experienced in the three above. Once the owner pilot is familiar, comfortable and has some history with the system, the system is trusted with the proper maintenance. The initial fear of the system diminishes and because you understand the system you have faith in the design.

Now back to your question of the Skymaster system, let me put it this way; the system is a very stable, very strong, very reliable, trouble free system as long as the maintenance performed is correct and consistent. Other than a few mechanical failures all issues with the Skymaster gear system are related to poor maintenance or misunderstanding of the system. Even the mechanical failures can be traced back to maintenance or unknowledgable adjustments. This is the same with almost every retractable gear system out there.

As far as I know the newer electric hydraulic system did not have any substantial benefits to the system and in some cases may have negative benefits, ie: electrical failure. Some of the early engine driven systems had pumps on both engines. This is an added benefit but not entirely required. The early system had a single actuator for the main gear and the newer system used 2 independent actuators. I have never heard of one being better than the other or why they changed this, I am sure there was good reason or at least some reason.

Reliability of the system, like any retractable gear, is in the hands of the maintenance and owner. Defer potential problems and it will come back to haunt you. Have a some unqualified person give you the green light and ..................stated failures or perceived weekness' of the system will typically point back to maintenance (lack of) or misadjustment.

The gear door deletion has been one of the most popular mods for the Skymaster. All of it's benefits are justified by the designer. RT Aerospace holds the STC and can be accessed via the internet. Most everyone that I have talked to has only positive things to say about this mod. I have only heard of one comment that might be negative and I have never heard any good facts to that negative comment. This was a concern of ice, slush, snow, mud possibly trapping the gear in the up position. I have never heard of this issue but could be perceived as a negative.

You should note that I have flown my Skymaster for 39 years and I am a commercial rated pilot that flies my bird an average of 75 hours per year and performs 99% of the maintenance under the supervision of a very qualified IA that is an expert with Skymasters.