[Shawn 507]

This is the launch configuration. With flaps and slats down, showing it in flight doesn't sound right. Am I missing something?

[STARMAN 352ND]

On a stand that would look like it's ready to land..
But it would of been nice to add a extra front gear for the correct look.
Here is a good picture of one...
JP

[Louie]

only if the landing gear is full length, is it or is it shortened to show a crouching configuration?

[smartd]

Originally Posted by Louie

only if the landing gear is full length, is it or is it shortened to show a crouching configuration?

203 is crouched down for launch.

[firefighterpilot1]

both main and nose landing gear are compressed as if it was on the ground. More notable than the nose gear, I think, the main gear extends quite a bit when lowered in the air.

[Shawn 507]

If I had this one, I wouldn't display it with gear down. Just concerned that the flaps / slats down would look odd with the "in flight" pose.

[David Hingtgen]

Spent some time going through the manual, and I found nothing preventing gear up and full flaps/slats. If you want it, you can do it. It just never occurs for more than a second in normal operations (the first second after leaving the ground---the actual flap limit is 225kts, manual says start retracting them by 180kts, and by the time the gear is fully retracted, the plane usually has the slats up and the flaps at the manuever position)

Probably get a configuration warning horn for doing it though: flaps down, low speed, low altitude---but gear retracted? Usually makes even low-tech planes beep at you (it assumes you're going to land and forget to put the wheels down).

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by David Hingtgen

Spent some time going through the manual, and I found nothing preventing gear up and full flaps/slats. If you want it, you can do it. It just never occurs for more than a second in normal operations (the first second after leaving the ground---the actual flap limit is 225kts, manual says start retracting them by 180kts, and by the time the gear is fully retracted, the plane usually has the slats up and the flaps at the manuever position)

Probably get a configuration warning horn for doing it though: flaps down, low speed, low altitude---but gear retracted? Usually makes even low-tech planes beep at you (it assumes you're going to land and forget to put the wheels down).

Land and forgetting to put the gears down? you mean like the B-1B at Diego Garcia?
B-1 Recovery, Diego Garcia

[firefighterpilot1]

Originally Posted by Andrew

Land and forgetting to put the gears down? you mean like the B-1B at Diego Garcia?
B-1 Recovery, Diego Garcia

It doesn't happen as much in the military world but happens all the time in the civilian world (private pilots).

[tripoli]

Does happen in the military more than you would think. Its is an automatic ticket to retirement. Usually, a military pilot that does so will be presented with the option to retire immediately while still looking over the jet on the runway. If it is a mechanical problem, its not such an issue, otherwise, you have just lost your career, which is enough of an issue to make most not forget to extend the gear.

For civilian, generally, you will get a 6 month suspension of your license. You will also get a check ride with an FAA instructor to insure when you do get back in the cockpit, you know all your procedures. Generally, the cost of insurance and repair is enough to keep most general aviation pilots on their toes with the added threat of the embarrassment of having a gear up landing on their records.