Interesting stuff. To clarify, the idea of them dropping by gravity wouldn't mean that they 'free fell' down unchecked, but that they would lower slowly, dampened by the hydraulic pressure. But apparently that's not the case, they are powered by the pumps both ways. It's interesting that the pumps are not strong enough to overcome the in-flight wind resistance, I wonder if that's by design. Also interesting is that it's said that they are either all the way up, all the way down, or in transit, that there is no stopping them part way. But in that shot of the actor (the actor? that's Robert Duvall!) pulling them down, notice that they are open but not moving before he grabs them and puts his weight on them. Also, it is said that in flight, the pumps would be applying constant pressure downward against the wind resistance. The more pressure, the more stable, less 'bouncy' they would be, and would also fight against them recoiling all the way shut to create the pressure bump. It's also said that in the down, locked position they also function to support the tail and prevent it from tipping as the passengers loaded. I'm surprised that would be necessary on a plane that size.
On fear: Yeah, the more experienced he is, the easier his descent on the stairs would be. It's weird, there's a thing in skydiving called 'floating', and that is where if a number of people are going to jump together at once, then some of them climb out and hang outside the door, with one foot inside and one hand gripping the doorframe, or sometimes there's a handle out there. With a rig on, you could climb in and out of that position all day long. But the thought of doing that just once without your rig on? Ain't gonna happen. Same with base jumping - without your rig, getting near the edge of the cliff or whatever is sketchy. With your rig, you walk right up to it.
