Definition
A landing gear configuration that uses wheels — rather than skis, floats, or skids — as the points of contact between the airplane and the ground. The wheels support the aircraft's weight on the surface and allow it to taxi, take off, and land on prepared runways and other firm surfaces.
Plain English
Landing gear that rolls on wheels, as opposed to landing gear designed for water (floats), snow (skis), or rough terrain (skids).
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument takeoff discussions when the handbook is describing an aircraft beginning its takeoff roll from a runway.
Why Pilots Care
Determines whether the aircraft can perform a standard instrument takeoff from an airport runway without special equipment or procedures.
Intuition Check
Do not read “wheel-type” as a special steering system or a specific nosewheel or tailwheel layout. It simply means the aircraft is using wheels as its landing gear, not floats, skis, or another support.
Example Sentence 1
Most training aircraft are fitted with wheel-type landing gear, allowing them to operate from paved runways.
Example Sentence 2
Before beginning an instrument takeoff, the pilot confirmed the airplane had wheel-type landing gear suitable for the paved surface.