A shock strut, comprising: a first chamber; a second chamber; a metering pin; and an orifice plate, the orifice plate comprising: a metering pin aperture extending through the orifice plate; and a percolation aperture extending through the orifice plate, wherein the orifice plate comprises an annular geometry defined by a first axially facing surface, a second axially facing surface disposed opposite the orifice plate from the first axially facing surface, an inner diameter surface, and an outer diameter surface, wherein the metering pin aperture is defined by the inner diameter surface, and the metering pin aperture is configured to receive the metering pin, wherein a cross-sectional area of the percolation aperture is less than that of a metering area defined between the inner diameter surface and the metering pin, wherein the percolation aperture extends from the first axially facing surface to the second axially facing surface; and wherein the first chamber is located opposite the orifice plate from the second chamber; characterized in that a gas is located within said first chamber and wherein the percolation aperture is configured to allow said gas to move from the first chamber to the second chamber in response to the shock strut moving from a retracted position to a deployed position. a first chamber; a second chamber; a metering pin; and an orifice plate, the orifice plate comprising: a metering pin aperture extending through the orifice plate; and a percolation aperture extending through the orifice plate, wherein the orifice plate comprises an annular geometry defined by a first axially facing surface, a second axially facing surface disposed opposite the orifice plate from the first axially facing surface, an inner diameter surface, and an outer diameter surface, wherein the metering pin aperture is defined by the inner diameter surface, and the metering pin aperture is configured to receive the metering pin, wherein a cross-sectional area of the percolation aperture is less than that of a metering area defined between the inner diameter surface and the metering pin, wherein the percolation aperture extends from the first axially facing surface to the second axially facing surface; and wherein the first chamber is located opposite the orifice plate from the second chamber; characterized in that a gas is located within said first chamber and wherein the percolation aperture is configured to allow said gas to move from the first chamber to the second chamber in response to the shock strut moving from a retracted position to a deployed position. a metering pin aperture extending through the orifice plate; and a percolation aperture extending through the orifice plate, wherein the orifice plate comprises an annular geometry defined by a first axially facing surface, a second axially facing surface disposed opposite the orifice plate from the first axially facing surface, an inner diameter surface, and an outer diameter surface, wherein the metering pin aperture is defined by the inner diameter surface, and the metering pin aperture is configured to receive the metering pin, wherein a cross-sectional area of the percolation aperture is less than that of a metering area defined between the inner diameter surface and the metering pin, wherein the percolation aperture extends from the first axially facing surface to the second axially facing surface; and wherein the first chamber is located opposite the orifice plate from the second chamber; characterized in that a gas is located within said first chamber and wherein the percolation aperture is configured to allow said gas to move from the first chamber to the second chamber in response to the shock strut moving from a retracted position to a deployed position.