>".. maybe I'm a bit confused, but isn't the purpose of the
>
> squat switch to prevent activation of the landing gear
>
> retraction while the airplane is on the ground? I
> would
> expect the gear to operate normally when on the jacks
> --
> just as it would in the air."

The squat switches we normally use are operated upon the principle of air
pressure on a diaphram to close the circuit for activation.  No airspeed
below about 80 mph breaks the circuit hence the gear will not operate. A
plane on the jacks is going nowhere hence open circuit.

Bob Smiley
N94RJ