High strength titanium alloys have replaced steel as the material of choice for large components, such as the main truck beam on the latest generation of airframes. The production of these components is carried out by hot near net shape forging, during which process variable control is essential to achieve the desired microstructural condition and subsequent mechanical properties. The plastic flow behaviour during forging and microstructural development of the near β alloys Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-3Cr and Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al employed in the 777 and 787 are compared.  Results indicate that newer β alloy Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-3Cr has a shallower β approach curve, and therefore, offers a more controllable microstructure than Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al.  Whilst Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-3Cr is almost insensitive to starting microstructure, alloy Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al on the other hand exhibits intense flow softening during forging for certain starting microstructures and is extremely sensitive to processing temperature.  The paper underlines the advantages of employing alloy Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-3Cr for larger landing gear forgings.