When Im getting ready to land I usually lower the landing gear 10 miles from the airport, Im wondering if that is to far? Should I wait and lower the landing gear closer at like 5 miles? How far from the airport do real pilots lower the landing gear for landing?

I could be wrong on this, but I think it depends upon the STAR into the airport. What I learned, though, was to lower the gear when the glideslope centers (on a general ILS approach.)Mike Tucson, AZ"You must be the change you wish to see in the world"--Mahatma Gandhi

The general rule is "Gear at the Marker" which means to drop the gear at the Outer Marker. However, as a real life pilot, I generally extend the gear JUST before glide slope intercept to slow down in anticipation of the transition from level flight to a decent down the glideslope and the resulting pick up in speed.If you start down the glideslope FIRST then you will pick up speed until the gear extends and then slow down which can easily cause a "porpoise" above and below the GS until things settle down.

In the 737 the gear is lowered after flaps 5 but the flaps go down to 15 the same time as the gear goes down.

I've read that the gear is another one of the "settings" in a proper approach. If the ac is at a given speed with throttle and flaps set (to whatever), then when the gear is lowered it will cause a slower speed or descent. So as is stated above at the marker (whichever one) is a good time to lower the gear in the heavier ac. In a small ac you drop the gear to help slow down, if that's what you want to do. The gear can usually be lowered at a higher speed than the flaps.Hope this helps :)

Thanks guys. :-)Looks like Ive been lowering the landing gear much to early.

Non-airliner ops:When using a standard downwind/base/final approach I get the plane configured for landing before turning final- whether on ILS or visual- always assuming it isn't an overlong final, in which case I aim to be fully configured for landing by around the 5 mile markFlying to Aircraft carriers for deck landing I get the a/c fully configured at about 5-6 miles( Gear/flaps/hook)Dave

As someone said, I also drop my gear just before intercepting the glideslope. This makes it easy to slow from approach speed to final landing speed.

Depending on the aircraft type and airspeed, I would choose not to lower the gear just before a turn. This considers the loss of airspeed caused by gear drag and anticipated airspeed loss in the turn while controlling altitude possibly approaching a stall threshold which increases during a turn.I was encouraged in real world small aircraft to lower gear on visual approaches on the lower third of downwind setting the first notch of flaps for a base turn.At busier airports on longer finals and approaches even in small aircraft, a fast speed is recommended not slowing until the OM or even later depending on the aircraft type and complexities of setting the landing configuration.

I agree, gear at the marker or intercept. If I am flying a full approach (proceedure turn and all) it is gear down at the outer marker inbound.:D

Now!Drop 'em now!!

LOL! Good one...DROP EM NOW!! heehee... This is from real world ops boys....Gear goes down so as to be stabilized on speed in the landing configuration no later than 500' Above field elevation (AFE) Most of us do it at the outer marker as a habit and allows you to get stabilized prior to 500 feet. If your downind on a visual just extrapolate outwards about where you need to do this to achieve that stable approach at 1,000', this means usually you are putting the gear down on base turn to final on a strictly visual approach. Sometimes the gear can be a great speedbrake and allow you to remedy a high approach if the ATC boys dropped you in close or high on a farther out final. Whatever you do be in the landing config with stable power(not idle) no later than 500' above the ground.Hornit