To minimize side loads on the landing gear during touchdown, the pilot should keep which axis parallel to the direction of motion?

• A. Longitudinal axis
• B. Lateral axis
• C. Vertical axis
• D. Dihedral axis

Answer: (A)

Keeping the fuselage oriented along the runway minimizes side loads on the landing gear because the main load path during touchdown runs along the aircraft’s length. The longitudinal axis, which runs nose to tail, defines that direction. When the airplane points straight into the direction of motion, there’s less yaw or sideways slip, so the touchdown impact and any gust or crosswind effects are absorbed mainly in a vertical load through the gear rather than creating lateral forces. The other axes describe directions that don’t align with the path of the touchdown load: the lateral axis goes wingtip to wingtip, the vertical axis is up and down, and the dihedral axis relates to wing angle and roll, not the straight-ahead load path.