1922, XPS-1, A.S. 68534

200 hp Lawrence-Wright J-1

Military's first retractable gear aircraft. Three XPS-1 were built, this one as well as A.S. 68535 and A.S. 68536.

Aeroplane Photo Supply No. 3079

Large Image

photo back

Cockpit from the A.S. 68536 aircraft with the gear retraction mechanism is on display at the US Air Force Museum in Dayton. Photo taken Oct 2016.

A hand crank on the upper left side drives a bevel gear on a short shaft forward to a chain sprocket. The chair drives a worm gear which turn a pair acme thread jack screw. These moves the landing gear. From the steep slope of the thread, I am guessing the jack screw is triple threaded. One source said the gears could be retracted in about 10 seconds.