Definition
A structural member in a landing gear assembly that resists fore-and-aft (drag) loads imposed on the gear during landing rollout, taxi, and braking. The drag strut connects the main gear leg to the airframe at an angle, transferring rearward forces into the aircraft structure and helping hold the gear in its extended or retracted position.
Plain English
A support rod that keeps a landing gear leg from being pushed backward when the wheels hit the ground or when the brakes are applied. It ties the gear leg to the airframe so the gear stays where it should.
Context Anchor
Seen in landing gear system descriptions, maintenance discussions, and preflight inspection of exposed landing gear components.
Derivation
‘Drag’ here is the rearward force on the gear (not aerodynamic drag in the wing sense), and ‘strut’ comes from an Old English word meaning a rigid supporting bar. Together: the rigid bar that handles rearward loads on the gear.
Why Pilots Care
Maintains landing gear rigidity so the aircraft can safely absorb landing forces without the gear folding or collapsing.
Intuition Check
Do not read “drag” here as only aerodynamic drag in the air. In “drag strut,” it means the front-to-back forces acting on the landing gear as the airplane moves on the ground.
Example Sentence 1
During the preflight inspection, the pilot checked the drag strut for any signs of cracking or damage where it attaches to the fuselage.
Example Sentence 2
During gear extension, the drag strut keeps the main wheels locked in the correct position.