Definition
The structural support members of the landing gear that connect the wheels to the airframe and absorb the loads imposed during landing, taxiing, and ground handling. Most struts use an oleo-pneumatic design, combining hydraulic fluid and compressed air or nitrogen to cushion impact and dampen rebound.
Plain English
The shock-absorbing legs that hold the wheels onto the airplane. They take the bump out of landings and support the weight of the aircraft on the ground.
Context Anchor
You encounter landing gear struts during preflight inspection, landing gear system study, and maintenance checks after hard landings or rough taxiing.
Derivation
Strut' comes from the Old English 'strutian,' meaning to stand stiffly or stand out. In engineering, a strut is a rigid structural piece that resists compression — which is exactly what these legs do when the aircraft lands.
Why Pilots Care
Correct strut function prevents airframe damage, maintains proper ground clearance, and ensures safe energy absorption during every landing.
Analogy
They work like the shock absorbers on a car, only built to handle far greater forces and sudden loads.
Intuition Check
Do not think of landing gear struts as only rigid metal legs. In many airplanes, they are support legs and shock absorbers at the same time.
Example Sentence 1
During preflight, the pilot checked that each landing gear strut was inflated to the correct extension.
Example Sentence 2
On touchdown the struts compressed smoothly, soaking up the landing forces without transmitting a jolt to the cabin.