The dynamic behaviors of a KT-1 family aircraft nose landing gear have been analyzed and the optimal design of an aircraft shock absorber has been conducted to improve efficiency of shock energy absorption. The nose landing gear is modeled as a 2 DOF system using ADAMS and various operational and environmental landing conditions were considered. The results of dynamic simulation for various landing conditions agree well with experiments. Also the effect of parameters of a shock strut on the dynamic behaviors and on shock energy absorption of the nose landing gear has been evaluated for optimal design to define design variables. It has been found that the parameters of a shock strut such as oil-density and orifice area have more effects on dynamic behaviors than those of operation conditions. Optimal design is performed to maximize the efficiency of shock energy absorption using Feasible Direction Method. As a result the design values of the shock strut for maximum efficiency of shock energy absorption are derived and it turns out that efficiency and dynamic behaviors of the nose landing gear were improved by the optimal design.