Which type of aircraft is likely to use retractable landing gear?

Retractable landing gear is primarily designed to reduce drag during flight and improve overall aerodynamic efficiency. High-performance or faster aircraft typically have retractable landing gear because these aircraft are designed to operate at higher speeds where aerodynamic efficiency becomes crucial. By retracting the landing gear during flight, the aircraft can achieve better performance, higher speeds, and increased fuel efficiency.

While light sport aircraft may have fixed landing gear due to simplicity and lower speed requirements, and helicopters do not require retraction for their operational capabilities, high-performance aircraft benefit significantly from the drag reduction offered by retractable landing gear. Gliders also tend to have fixed landing gear to optimize their aerodynamic design for sustained flight without the complexities associated with retractable systems. Therefore, high-performance or faster aircraft are the most likely candidates to have retractable landing gear as part of their design.