What is involved in the landing gear extension/retraction sequence?

The landing gear extension/retraction sequence primarily involves using hydraulic or electric systems to move the landing gear. Aircraft landing gear is typically operated through mechanisms driven by hydraulic pressure or electric motors. These systems enable the gear to be raised or lowered efficiently and safely during takeoff and landing phases of flight.

Hydraulic systems use fluid pressure to generate the necessary force to extend or retract the gear, while electric systems rely on motors and gears to perform the same actions. This design allows pilots to control the landing gear with reliability and minimal physical effort from the cockpit, ensuring a streamlined operations within the aircraft's flight control systems.

While activating manual controls is a part of the process, it is the hydraulic or electric systems that execute the actual movement of the landing gear. Checking the weather conditions and physically inspecting the landing gear do not directly pertain to the mechanics of gear operation but are more about overall safety and maintenance practices, which are not involved in the extension/retraction process itself.