Definition
The act of mechanically folding or drawing the landing gear up into the airframe after takeoff to reduce aerodynamic drag and improve climb and cruise performance.
Plain English
Pulling the wheels up into the airplane after takeoff so the airplane is smoother through the air and can fly faster and climb better.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft control and performance discussions, especially after takeoff in airplanes with retractable landing gear.
Derivation
Retraction comes from the Latin retrahere, meaning 'to draw back.' In aviation, it describes the gear being drawn back up into the wings or fuselage once the airplane is safely airborne.
Why Pilots Care
Timely retraction reduces drag, improves climb rate, and prevents gear damage from high-speed flight; retracting too early or too late can create safety or performance issues.
Intuition Check
Retraction does not mean cancelling or taking back a statement here. It means physically moving the landing gear up and into its stowed position.
Example Sentence 1
After confirming a positive rate of climb, the pilot called for retraction of the landing gear.
Example Sentence 2
The after-takeoff checklist includes confirmation that retraction of the landing gear is complete before accelerating to best climb speed.