Landing gear design

[jimclarke]

And now for my 500th post (taaadaaaa) I would like to ask a semi intelligent question:  If you look at the landing gear on aircraft like the FW190 and the Brewster Buffalo you'll notice how the main gear struts are canted inward when the gear is extended.  
It seems like they would have been stronger if they had been built to be perpendicular to the wing like those on the P-51.  I've never read anything that said the FW190 had weak gear but I have read things about the Buffalo having gear problems.  Does anyone know what advantages if any there are of canted gear?

Thanks,

Jim

[Dan]

Landing gear? Wotzat... I dunno... But congratulations on the post count... One under-age beer please!!
Dan

[Felix/FFDS]

I don't think that there is an advantage/disadvantage, but rather they were the result of different approaches.  If you note, many aircraft have "canted" gear - practically any aircraft with fuselage mounted gear - (Spitfire/ ME109, most WW1 single engine fighters ..)  

[Rocket_Bird]

I dont know any advantages since im not the aircraft design engineer.  I would think that itd be for stability, different stress load, and more aerodynamic deployment though.