Definition
Landing gear that folds or pulls up into the airplane's structure after takeoff and extends back out before landing, rather than remaining in a fixed position throughout flight.
Plain English
Wheels that tuck up into the airplane once it's airborne and come back down before landing, instead of hanging out all the time.
Context Anchor
Seen during preflight inspection, cockpit checks, takeoff, climb, approach, and landing in airplanes equipped with movable landing gear.
Derivation
Retract comes from the Latin retrahere, meaning 'to draw back.' The gear is literally drawn back into the airframe.
Why Pilots Care
Reduces aerodynamic drag, allowing higher cruise speeds and improved fuel efficiency compared with fixed-gear aircraft.
Analogy
It is like folding a bicycle kickstand up while riding and putting it back down when stopping. The gear is still part of the airplane, but it is tucked away when it is not needed.
Intuition Check
Retractable gear does not mean the airplane has no landing gear in flight. It means the landing gear is designed to move up and down as needed.
Example Sentence 1
Before landing, the pilot extended the retractable gear and confirmed three green lights indicating it was down and locked.
Example Sentence 2
Because the airplane has retractable gear, the pilot must remember to lower it before landing.