Definition
An aural warning device in retractable-gear airplanes that sounds when the airplane is configured for landing — typically when power is reduced below a set threshold or when flaps are extended beyond a certain position — but the landing gear is not extended and locked down.
Plain English
A loud horn that goes off in the cockpit to warn the pilot that the wheels are still up when it sounds like the airplane is about to land.
Context Anchor
Encountered in retractable-gear airplanes, especially during approach, landing setup, checklist use, and training maneuvers where power or airplane setup can trigger the warning.
Derivation
“Horn” originally referred to a device that made a loud sound to get attention. In this term, it does not mean a physical horn on the outside of the airplane; it means an audible warning inside the cockpit.
Why Pilots Care
Prevents gear-up landings that can damage the aircraft and create unsafe situations on touchdown.
Intuition Check
Do not treat the horn as proof of the landing gear’s exact position. It is a warning that the gear is not confirmed down and locked when the airplane appears to be in a landing-related condition.
Example Sentence 1
As he reduced power on final approach, the landing gear warning horn sounded, reminding him he had not yet selected gear down.
Example Sentence 2
During the VMC demo, the instructor waited for the landing gear warning horn before confirming the gear was down.