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#1
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I have had several students in single engine airplanes who were afraid to raise the gear in a Cessna 210. They wanted to do the training with the gear down, on the premise that the gear might fail with use. This is somewhat akin to never wanting to bend one's knees on the off chance they might wear out, or the ancient hang gliding counsel that one should never fly higher than one cares to fall.
Raise the gear. Yes, landing gear does fail. The Cessna gear is no exception. Like all things mechanical, however, and like all aircraft systems, there are procedures for handling failures. The Cessna gear system found on the Skymaster has several potential fixes, from replenishing fluid in flight to pumping gear down by hand, to shutting the system off to cool. Knowing the system is the secret to getting comfortable with the system. Not knowing the system, not knowing any system, inspires distrust and fear. Get to know your airplane. 
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#2
10-03-11, 11:03 AM
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Your concerns about "additional maintenance/expense (like rebuilding/replacing hydraulic cylinders..." I think is unfounded. Over 12 years on two Skymasters I have never spent a penny on gear maintenance except for inspecting it at annual and one time when I changed the hoses. With you being an A&P, the issue is even less significant.
Just think about it. One suggestion: buy it, fly it for a while, and then decide. Ernie
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#3
10-03-11, 09:46 PM
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I have aircraft insurance for one reason...gear up landing, mechanical or cranial-rectum inversion. I highly recommend you do the same. Then you don't need an unnatural fear of retracting the gear.
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#4
10-04-11, 06:47 AM
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Modified gear
To all, thank you for your comment/advise.
I understand the concept of the gear and the potential of lessening the value of my plane "IF" I decide to modify the gear. Here is another way to look at this. Being unique! Since the bird I'm getting is somewhat a project I'll have time to evaluate the system and maintenance involved in maintaining it. I certainly don't plan on "ripping" the system out day one. I still need to talk to the DAR that approved the mod and see if in fact it will be too expensive to do? Besides what wrong with simplicity? Thanks, BILLS
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#5
10-04-11, 08:44 AM
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Simple
Quote:
I think a bunch of 337 Field modification forms will be required, but no STC. You will have to come up with a way to make sure the landing gear doesn't retract on you. This means it is more complex than just removing the cylinders, hoses, etc. Take a look at the one that has been done, they put wheel pants on the mains.
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#7
10-04-11, 12:39 PM
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Fixed gear 337
To Mr. Larry Bowdish,
Yes I know that I can't just remove the cylinder and related equipment. N53504 the only C337 converted to "Fixed gear" that I know of. I'm hoping to contact him PRIOR to doing any conversions. Hopefully he'll have the name of the DAR that approved the mod and or documentation that will show me what to do. Thanks for you comments. Cessnadriver (as of Saturday "Skymasterdriver" ha ha!) Last edited by cessnadriver : 10-04-11 at 12:40 PM. Reason: spelling
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