Definition
Elastic cords, typically made of bundled rubber strands inside a woven fabric sheath, used on certain aircraft landing gear to absorb landing and taxi shocks by stretching under load and returning to their original length.
Plain English
Heavy-duty stretchy cords that act as the springs on some landing gear, soaking up the bump when the aircraft touches down or rolls over uneven ground.
Context Anchor
Seen in preventive maintenance discussions for aircraft that use elastic landing gear supports, especially older or light aircraft designs.
Derivation
From 'shock' (a sudden impact or jolt) and 'cord' (a length of flexible material). The name describes the job directly: a cord that absorbs shock.
Why Pilots Care
Worn or broken shock cords allow the gear to bottom out, increasing the risk of propeller strike or structural damage on landing.
Analogy
Think of the thick bungee cords used to tie down cargo. Shock cords work the same way, but their job is to stretch and rebound every time the wheels meet the ground.
Intuition Check
Do not read “shock cords” as electrical cords or cords that cause an electric shock. In this context, “shock” means impact, and the cords help absorb that impact.
Example Sentence 1
During the preflight, the pilot checked the shock cords on the main gear for fraying and signs of stretching.
Example Sentence 2
Replacing the shock cords is one of the preventive maintenance tasks an owner-pilot is allowed to perform.