Abstract: An apparatus for loading and unloading a main landing gear (“MLG”) of an aircraft includes a fixture that is adapted to couple to a truck of the MLG such that a sagittal plane of the fixture is parallel to or coplanar with a sagittal plane of the MLG and both translational forces and turning moments applied to the fixture are coupled directly through the fixture to the MLG, a mechanism for controllably translating the fixture in the sagittal plane thereof, and a mechanism for controllably rotating the fixture in the sagittal plane thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading and unloading a main landing gear (“MLG”) of an aircraft includes a fixture that is adapted to couple to a truck of the MLG such that a sagittal plane of the fixture is parallel to or coplanar with a sagittal plane of the MLG and both translational forces and turning moments applied to the fixture are coupled directly through the fixture to the MLG, a mechanism for controllably translating the fixture in the sagittal plane thereof, and a mechanism for controllably rotating the fixture in the sagittal plane thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading the main landing gear (“MLG”) of a large aircraft includes a support frame having symmetrical side portions disposed on opposite sides of a sagittal plane of the MLG. A pair of opposing slide mechanisms are coupled to opposite sides of the MLG and supported on a corresponding side of the support frame for translation of the MLG in the sagittal plane. Two pairs of laterally opposing vertical jacks are mounted on opposite sides of the support frame, and respective opposite ends of the slide mechanisms are rotatably coupled to corresponding output ends of the jacks, such that raising or lowering the output ends of the jacks in one opposing pair relative to the output ends of the other pair results in rotation of the MLG in the sagittal plane. A drive mechanism on the support frame enables translation and rotation of the MLG in a horizontal plane.