A helicopter landing gear, comprising: a pair of skids; and one or more cross members (601, 603, 101) extending between the pair of skids, each of the one or more cross members comprising: a plurality of layers (205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215) of fiber-reinforced, organic matrix, composite material in which adjacent layers are bonded to one another; wherein the cross member (601, 603, 101) is of tubular form and configured to exhibit a non-linear stress-strain response when mechanically loaded to failure; wherein the fiber-reinforced, organic matrix, composite material comprises a plurality of one or more of carbon, graphite, glass, and aramid fibers; and characterized in that the plurality of layers (205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215) comprises: a first, innermost layer comprising reinforcing fibers oriented generally at 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis (107, 607, 609) of the cross member; a second layer disposed on the first layer, the second layer comprising reinforcing fibers oriented generally at ± 25 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis (107, 607, 609) of the cross member; a third layer disposed on the second layer, the third layer comprising reinforcing fibers oriented generally at 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis (107, 607, 609), of the cross member; a fourth layer disposed on the third layer, the fourth layer comprising reinforcing fibers oriented generally at ± 30 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis (107, 607, 609) of the cross member; a fifth layer disposed on the fourth layer, the fifth layer comprising reinforcing fibers oriented generally at 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis (107, 607, 609) of the cross member; and a sixth layer disposed on the fifth layer, the sixth layer comprising reinforcing fibers oriented generally at ± 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis (107, 607, 609) of the cross member. a pair of skids; and one or more cross members (601, 603, 101) extending between the pair of skids, each of the one or more cross members comprising: a plurality of layers (205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215) of fiber-reinforced, organic matrix, composite material in which adjacent layers are bonded to one another; wherein the cross member (601, 603, 101) is of tubular form and configured to exhibit a non-linear stress-strain response when mechanically loaded to failure; wherein the fiber-reinforced, organic matrix, composite material comprises a plurality of one or more of carbon, graphite, glass, and aramid fibers; and characterized in that a plurality of layers (205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215) of fiber-reinforced, organic matrix, composite material in which adjacent layers are bonded to one another; wherein the cross member (601, 603, 101) is of tubular form and configured to exhibit a non-linear stress-strain response when mechanically loaded to failure; wherein the fiber-reinforced, organic matrix, composite material comprises a plurality of one or more of carbon, graphite, glass, and aramid fibers; and characterized in that the plurality of layers (205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215) comprises: a first, innermost layer comprising reinforcing fibers oriented generally at 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis (107, 607, 609) of the cross member; a second layer disposed on the first layer, the second layer comprising reinforcing fibers oriented generally at ± 25 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis (107, 607, 609) of the cross member; a third layer disposed on the second layer, the third layer comprising reinforcing fibers oriented generally at 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis (107, 607, 609), of the cross member; a fourth layer disposed on the third layer, the fourth layer comprising reinforcing fibers oriented generally at ± 30 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis (107, 607, 609) of the cross member; a fifth layer disposed on the fourth layer, the fifth layer comprising reinforcing fibers oriented generally at 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis (107, 607, 609) of the cross member; and a sixth layer disposed on the fifth layer, the sixth layer comprising reinforcing fibers oriented generally at ± 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis (107, 607, 609) of the cross member. a first, innermost layer comprising reinforcing fibers oriented generally at 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis (107, 607, 609) of the cross member; a second layer disposed on the first layer, the second layer comprising reinforcing fibers oriented generally at ± 25 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis (107, 607, 609) of the cross member; a third layer disposed on the second layer, the third layer comprising reinforcing fibers oriented generally at 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis (107, 607, 609), of the cross member; a fourth layer disposed on the third layer, the fourth layer comprising reinforcing fibers oriented generally at ± 30 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis (107, 607, 609) of the cross member; a fifth layer disposed on the fourth layer, the fifth layer comprising reinforcing fibers oriented generally at 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis (107, 607, 609) of the cross member; and a sixth layer disposed on the fifth layer, the sixth layer comprising reinforcing fibers oriented generally at ± 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis (107, 607, 609) of the cross member.