What is the primary benefit of reducing drag with landing gear doors?

Reducing drag with landing gear doors primarily leads to enhanced fuel efficiency. When the landing gear is retracted and properly covered with doors, the airflow over the aircraft becomes smoother and more streamlined. This decrease in drag means that the aircraft faces less resistance as it moves through the air, which allows it to consume less fuel to maintain speed and altitude. In essence, when drag is minimized, the engine does not have to work as hard, resulting in more efficient fuel usage during flight and reduced operational costs.

While increased speed might be a favorable result of reduced drag, it is fundamentally secondary to the primary benefit of fuel efficiency, which is a critical consideration in aircraft design and operation. Improved structural integrity and reduced maintenance needs are important factors as well, but they are not directly tied to the act of reducing drag through the use of landing gear doors.