What effect does lowering the landing gear have on an aircraft's drag?

Lowering the landing gear increases drag on an aircraft, which significantly influences its performance, particularly during landing. This increase in drag occurs because the extended landing gear creates additional surface area that interacts with the airflow around the aircraft, leading to higher aerodynamic resistance. The added drag causes the aircraft to decelerate more effectively, which is beneficial when approaching for a landing, as it aids in achieving a lower landing speed and ensures a more controlled descent.

The increased drag from the landing gear also affects landing distance, as the aircraft may require a longer distance to come to a complete stop compared to an aircraft with retracted gear. Pilots must account for this when planning their approach and landing, as the added drag changes the dynamics of the aircraft's speed and descent rate.

In contrast, while it may seem that lowering the landing gear could aid in faster landings, this is misleading, as the increased drag serves to slow down the aircraft rather than speed it up. Additionally, the misconception of having no effect on drag ignores the fundamental principles of aerodynamics, where extending any component that alters the surface area of an aircraft directly impacts its drag characteristics.