There are four basic types of landing gear. These are Tail-Wheel Gear, Tricycle Gear, Pontoons (or Floats), and Ski-planes. Each of these basic types fulfills a specific function that is unique to the aircraft operational requirements.

Aircraft landing gear is categorized by its configuration and how it supports the plane on the ground. The four primary types include: 1. Tailwheel (Conventional), where two main wheels are forward and a small wheel supports the tail; 2. Tricycle, the modern standard with two main wheels and a steerable nose wheel; 3. Tandem, often seen in gliders or military jets like the U-2, where wheels are placed in a line along the fuselage; and 4. Multi-chassis/Bogie, found on heavy jetliners like the Boeing 747, which uses multiple sets of wheels (bogies) to distribute immense weight across the runway. In 2026, the tricycle gear remains the "gold standard" for commercial aviation due to its superior stability and easier ground handling for pilots.