ORIGINAL: SAP_2000
It has been said before that the Large Hawk has troubble retracting the gear because of not enough power in the retracts/ air cylinders.
In the video from Florida Jets above, the gear does not retract so Ali eventually has to roll it inverted to get the gear in.
No doubt it should not not be this way, but the question to Anton/ SM is: Are there any upgrades to the gear on the current planes being built and shipped??
As you know, I have one on order, and would really not be happy if I have to pull tricks to get the gear to retract on every flight[X(]
In Florida Ali used someone's pressurized air tank to fill up the air system's in the hawk, this only allowed like 100-110psi to go in the plane. Only on one occasion did he have to roll the plane upside down in order to retract the gear, the other flights he would do a slow fly by after take off and retract them at show center. I do remember one formation take off with Thomas Singer that they both retracted the gear right after he broke ground, so I don't think there is any problem with the gear/cylinders. I think if he was able to put 120lbs of air in the plane it work flawless each time right after takeoff, but since the gear have so many doors hanging out in the air it takes some good air pressure plus being able to retract the gear right after you break ground.
Ali let me have a flight and I fell in love with this plane, gear worked fine for me as well, and I think Skymaster has another winner with this bird.