A miniature landing gear to inspire tomorrow's engineers

A miniature landing gear to inspire tomorrow's engineers

As part of its efforts to communicate and raise awareness about engineering careers, Safran Landing Systems has developed an ambitious and educational project:

the design of a functional 1/4-scale aircraft landing gear capable of retracting electrically like a real aeronautical system.

Designed to be presented at air shows and school events, this project aims to illustrate Safran's expertise in a concrete way while inspiring future engineers.

The project was born from an idea by the Vice-President of Engineering and began in September 2024. The first functional retractable landing gear was completed in July 2025.

A total of eight people participated in the project, including three core members who were involved throughout. Joshua PRICE, Test Engineer at Safran, who approached TiMOTION, focused on the electronics and actuation, as well as the assembly of the landing gear. The other members were responsible for the computer-aided design of each section of the landing gear and the box in which it is installed.

The challenge: designing a realistic retractable landing gear

The objective was clear: to create a new concept, requiring the assembly of several existing landing gears, as well as the integration of a retraction mechanism controlled by a landing gear lever. The model had to meet several major constraints:

• support a significant weight when fully assembled,
• operate reliably and repetitively,
• ensure maximum safety during public demonstrations,
• maintain a neat appearance, faithful to real aeronautical equipment.

The TiMOTION actuator, key to the project's success 

To meet the requirements for strength, precision and safety, TiMOTION supplied a MA3, the most powerful and robust linear actuator.

The MA3 was chosen for several key reasons:

its high load capacity, essential for retracting the landing gear,

• the possibility of defining a customised stroke, facilitating mechanical integration,
• its integrated mechanical potentiometer, allowing precise position control,
• its simple 24V DC power supply, compatible with existing electronics.

Integrating the actuator was very simple. It was controlled via an Arduino board, combined with a motor controller, to ensure precise operation. This made it possible to implement PID control for accurate position management, while limiting speeds and adjusting movement profiles.

Results that live up to expectations

The final result fully meets the team's expectations:

• a powerful and quiet retractable landing gear,
• intuitive control via a lever, accessible to the general public,
• a significant safety margin, allowing for future model upgrades,
• a realistic demonstration of how Safran landing gear works.

The TiMOTION actuator not only met the technical requirements, but also exceeded expectations in terms of reliability, control and ease of use, without generating excessive electrical constraints.

Conclusion: a technological showcase that inspires

This miniature landing gear project perfectly illustrates how a robust electric actuation solution can transform an educational idea into an impressive technological demonstration.

Using the MA3 linear actuator from TiMOTION, Safran Landing Systems now has an innovative communication tool that showcases its industrial expertise while inspiring the next generation of aeronautical engineers.

Electric linear actuators are thus establishing themselves as key components, not only in demanding industrial applications, but also in demonstration, testing and knowledge transfer devices.

👉 Please feel free to contact us to find out how TiMOTION solutions can support your engineering, demonstration or technological innovation projects.