How is the nose gear held in the down position?

• A. Over center folding struts and a mechanical brake on the electric actuator
• B. Hydraulic locks and a pin
• C. Mechanical latch only
• D. Magnetic locks

Answer: (A)

The nose gear is held down by an over-center folding strut arrangement paired with a mechanical brake on the electric actuator. As the gear extends, the linkages move past a center point so the geometry self-locks, making it very difficult for the gear to retract just from loads and vibrations. The brake on the electric actuator adds a positive hold, resisting any backward motion of the actuator that could attempt to fold the gear back up. This combination gives reliable, positive down-lock without needing extra pins or hydraulic locks.

Other methods, like a separate pin, hydraulic lock, or magnetic lock, aren’t used here in the nose gear design, and a latch alone wouldn’t provide the same robust resistance to retraction.