Sea Fury question....

[Geedee]

.

 

[Colin1]

Hi Gary
I found this

Hawker Sea Fury
Undercarriage Emergency Release
In the event of failure of the engine-driven pump the wheels could be lowered by the handpump. If this proved ineffective, the wheels could be lowered by gravity on releasing the mechanical up-locks by operating two red-painted foot pedals, one beneath each sloping panel. The wheels travelled beyond the vertical in order to lock down, and a pneumatic assister jack was incorporated in the mechanism to assist the wheels in the later stage of the operation. The control for the assister jack was mounted forward of the engine control box. The tailwheel lowered automatically on failure of the hydraulic system and locked on touching down.

Hawker Tempest V (I doubt it's dissimilar)
Tailwheel Fairing Doors
Two tail wheel fairing doors are hinged to the lower edge of the skin of the rear monocoque. The doors are shaped to conform with the contours of the rear monocoque and when in the closed position, completely seal the tail wheel cutaway in the latter, small bulges being incorporated to clear the tyre. A mounting bracket and cap are bolted to the tail wheel oleo-leg and adjustable connecting rods attach the doors to this bracket. The operation of opening or closing the doors is thus governed by the tail wheel; when the latter is retracted the connecting rods first of all open the doors wider apart to clear the tyre and then close them as the oleo strut moves round its pivot until, with the wheel fully retracted, the doors are just closed.