Which landing gear configuration is characterized by a nose wheel and two main wheels?

The landing gear configuration characterized by a nose wheel and two main wheels is known as tricycle gear. This design includes a single wheel at the front (nose wheel) and two larger wheels located at the rear (main wheels), providing stability during ground operations and better visibility for the pilot. The arrangement helps to prevent tail strikes during takeoff and landing, as the nose wheel allows for a higher angle of attack. Additionally, this configuration facilitates easier taxiing and reduces the tendency to tip forward, making it a popular choice for many modern aircraft.

Other configurations, such as conventional gear, typically consist of two main wheels positioned at the rear with no nose wheel, thereby having different handling characteristics. Bicycle gear also employs two main wheels but is placed close together under the fuselage, differing from the wider stance of tricycle gear. Quadricycle gear, which is less common, includes a design with four wheels, usually two at the front and two at the back or a combination thereof, which is not applicable here. Hence, tricycle gear is the most suitable and widely used configuration for stable and safe landing operations.