A landing gear strut assembly comprising: an outer cylinder; an inner cylinder that reciprocates within the outer cylinder; and a latch mechanism comprising: a first mounting bracket coupled to the outer cylinder of the landing gear strut assembly; a second mounting bracket coupled to the inner cylinder; a first latching member pivotally coupled to the first mounting bracket, the first latching member configured to pivot between a latching position and a released position, wherein said first latching member includes a first latch having a first engagement surface and a second latch having a second engagement surface; and a second latching member coupled to the second mounting bracket, wherein while in the latching position the first latching member is configured to be positioned relative to the second latching member so as the respective engagement surface (133E, 134E) of the first and second latch (133, 134) is coupled with the second latching member and retain the inner cylinder in a retracted position, relative to the outer cylinder, in a direction of extension of the inner cylinder, wherein while in the released position the first latching member is configured to be uncoupled from the second latching member so that the inner cylinder is free to move relative to the outer cylinder in the direction of extension of the inner cylinder, and wherein each of the first latch and the second latch is configured to carry an entire extension load of the landing gear strut assembly. an outer cylinder; an inner cylinder that reciprocates within the outer cylinder; and a latch mechanism comprising: a first mounting bracket coupled to the outer cylinder of the landing gear strut assembly; a second mounting bracket coupled to the inner cylinder; a first latching member pivotally coupled to the first mounting bracket, the first latching member configured to pivot between a latching position and a released position, wherein said first latching member includes a first latch having a first engagement surface and a second latch having a second engagement surface; and a second latching member coupled to the second mounting bracket, wherein while in the latching position the first latching member is configured to be positioned relative to the second latching member so as the respective engagement surface (133E, 134E) of the first and second latch (133, 134) is coupled with the second latching member and retain the inner cylinder in a retracted position, relative to the outer cylinder, in a direction of extension of the inner cylinder, wherein while in the released position the first latching member is configured to be uncoupled from the second latching member so that the inner cylinder is free to move relative to the outer cylinder in the direction of extension of the inner cylinder, and wherein each of the first latch and the second latch is configured to carry an entire extension load of the landing gear strut assembly. a first mounting bracket coupled to the outer cylinder of the landing gear strut assembly; a second mounting bracket coupled to the inner cylinder; a first latching member pivotally coupled to the first mounting bracket, the first latching member configured to pivot between a latching position and a released position, wherein said first latching member includes a first latch having a first engagement surface and a second latch having a second engagement surface; and a second latching member coupled to the second mounting bracket, wherein while in the latching position the first latching member is configured to be positioned relative to the second latching member so as the respective engagement surface (133E, 134E) of the first and second latch (133, 134) is coupled with the second latching member and retain the inner cylinder in a retracted position, relative to the outer cylinder, in a direction of extension of the inner cylinder, wherein while in the released position the first latching member is configured to be uncoupled from the second latching member so that the inner cylinder is free to move relative to the outer cylinder in the direction of extension of the inner cylinder, and wherein each of the first latch and the second latch is configured to carry an entire extension load of the landing gear strut assembly.