1.4M views · Aug 30, 2018 · 1:33 · 0 HN recommenders · 4 mentions · discussed 2019
A short Boeing-supplied clip where the 737 MAX program's chief project engineer explains how the lengthened landing gear of the MAX 10 folds up. It shows the gear model in motion.
Why Hacker News points people here: Used as a concrete illustration of the commonality constraints that forced Boeing's 737 MAX design choices.
“I find it very illustrative”
Boeing engineer explains commonality constraint on landing gear
Here's Gary Hamatani, chief project engineer for Boeing's 737 MAX program, explaining that they needed the main landing gear to fit the existing wheel wells: this video I find it very illustrative, as it contains the keywords that are at issue here: "we wanted to preserve commonality", "from a pilot's perspective there's absolutely nothing different", etc.
“Short video with gear model in action”
Short video of the MAX 10 gear model in action
Not "perhaps". It actually was designed for the 737 MAX, which comes in 4 lengths. Only the long one gets the fancy gear. Short video with gear model in action: this video link Scroll down for a nice diagram: link
“They actually cleverly modified the landing gear to gain a bit of heigth”
Shows how the landing gear was modified for height
Because you then need longer and heavier landing gear, which you need to fit somewhere in the plane as they retract. This is a ripple effect where you probably need to redesign the complete airframe, from fuselage to the wings. They actually cleverly modified the landing gear to gain a bit of heigth, but it was not enough: this video
“The landing gear only extend on rotation.”
Shows gear extends on rotation, same ground height
Also the 737-10 does sit higher: link Watch the video from your link. The landing gear only extend on rotation. When it's on the ground the 737 MAX 10 sits at the same height as every other 737 MAX. this video
