Marc,
I have looked at those and think they are pretty slick too, but they have a mjor drawback. How do you operate the landing gear doors?
Lado has not addressed landing gear doors, possibly because of the variables in as many designs as there are in the jet marketplace. Their equipment looks pretty good, and certainly has a spot in the marketplace, but is better suited to designs with straight landing gear legs and no (or very simple) landing gear doors. Try to make that fabulous MiG you built operate the landing gear doors without pneumatics.

Air cylinders are a very simple, light, reliable method for for the operation of scale landing gear doors. And, they are relatively maintenance free. Properly installed and adjusted air systems impose NO undue stresses on the airframe.

Install the Lado system for the gear legs, and add an air system for the doors?

Design and fabricate a system of levers, arms, bellcranks and pushrods to take the place of an airtank, valve, and hose?
Not me. Lots of extra work and complication. Lower parts count too.
I have designed and fabricated mechanical contraptions in the past to open and close doors, and they were not as reliable or simple as air cylinders. I sure was happy when I discovered small air cylinders....Hmmmm, I wish I had thought of that first.

I remember the words of a long gone aviation pioneer, whio said "Simplificate and add lightness". William E. Boeing.
(This statement has also been attributed to Colin Chapman, Henry Ford and Billy Mitchell)
Seems to fit pretty well.


I don't want to deal with another battery or more wiring in my jets either. Two for the airborne RC system, one for the ECU, one in the transmitter, spares, cnargers, cords, wires, connectors, etc......enough is enough.

Harley Condra
BVM REP
JetCat REP