In the retracted position, aircraft landing gear of an aircraft is supported by an uplock hook. The deployment of the aircraft landing gear includes the steps of supporting at least part of the weight of the landing gear by a releasable catch in the form of an uplock hook, applying a lifting force to the landing gear to remove at least part of the load sustained by the releasable catch, releasing the catch and effecting the downward movement of the landing gear to the deployed position.