Definition
A small outline shape of a landing gear leg shown on the cockpit gear position indicator, which appears when that gear is down and locked. Each gear (nose, left main, right main) has its own silhouette, and all three must be visible to confirm the gear is in the landing position.
Plain English
A simple picture of a landing gear leg that shows up on the cockpit panel when that gear is fully down and locked into place. One picture for each wheel — when you see all three, the gear is ready for landing.
Context Anchor
Seen on some cockpit landing gear position indicators in airplanes with retractable landing gear.
Derivation
Silhouette comes from the French, originally meaning a plain outline shape with no detail inside. Used here because the indicator shows just the outline of the gear leg — enough to recognize it at a glance.
Why Pilots Care
Confirms that all landing gear units are extended and locked before touchdown, preventing gear-up landings.
Analogy
It is like the small door or seatbelt icons on a car dashboard: the shape is simple, but it tells you exactly which part the warning or status applies to.
Intuition Check
Do not think of silhouette here as an actual shadow or outside view of the airplane. Here it means a simple cockpit symbol that represents each landing gear unit.
Example Sentence 1
On final approach, the pilot confirmed the silhouette of each gear was showing in the indicator before continuing to land.
Example Sentence 2
Before turning final, she confirmed the silhouette of each gear matched the down-and-locked markings.