Parts Of An Airplane

1. 2. 3. 4. The fuselage or body The wing or lifting surfaces The tail section (empennage), or canard The propulsion system, I.e. engines with or without propellers 5. Undercarriage or landing gear

The Airplane

The Fuselage
The fuselage is the body of the aircraft, to which the wings, tail, engine and landing gear are attached. Since tremendous loads loads are imposed upon the fuselage structure, it must have maximum strength and, as with all of the parts of an aircraft, it must be light weight.

The Wing
The lift producing surfaces of an aircraft, such as the wings of an airplane or the rotor of a helicopter, have an aerodynamically efficient shape called an airfoil. An airfoil provides the lifting force when it interacts with a moving stream of air.

Ailerons
Ailerons on almost all airplanes are located near the wing tips hinge to the aileron spar to become part of the trailing edge of the wing. Slow-speed flight, both sets of ailerons operate to provide the needed lateral control, but for high-speed flight, only the inboard, or high-speed, ailerons are active.

Flaps
Flaperons utilize a linkage that combines the trailing edge flaps with the ailerons. Generally, the entire trailing edge of the wing is lowered to increase lift.

The Tail Section

The Tale Plane or Stabilizer. An airfoil placed at the rear end of the fuselage to balance the airplane and provide longitudinal stability.

The Tail Section

Elevators: Surfaces hinged on the trailing edge of the stabilizer Fin: A fixed vertical surface placed ahead of the stern post to provide directional stability. Rudder: A movable surface hinged to the fin to give directional control.

The Tail Section

Trim Tab: An adjustable tab either fixed or hinged to a control surface (rudder, elevators and ailerons) that helps the pilot by eliminating the need to exert excessive pressure on the cockpit flight control during the various phases of fight. Stabilizer: A single airfoil section that replaces the combination of stabilizer and elevator.

The Landing Gear

The function of the landing gear is to take the shock of landing and also to support the weight of the airplane landing gear was a through axle, similar to the wheel and axle arrangement on a cart or wagon. The landing gear on modern airplane is either of the fixed gear type or retractable.

Brakes
There are two basic types of disc brakes in use today. For smaller aircraft, on which brakes are used primarily as a maneuvering device and do not require dissipation of great amounts of kinetic energy, the single-disc brake using spot-type linings has proven very effective. Large aircraft, whose brakes must dissipate tremendous amount of kinetic energy at braking, use multiple-disc brakes. Brake rotors and stators are stacked together. The rotors turn with the aircraft wheel, while the stators are fixed to the wheel hub. When the brakes are applied, actuators extend, pushing the rotors and stators against each other. The frictional forces generated by the rotors and stators slow the aircraft down.

Cabin Pressurization
The air that forms atmosphere allows people to live and breathe easily at low altitudes, but flight is most efficient at high altitudes where the air is thin and the aerodynamic drag is low. In order for humans to fly at these altitudes, the aircraft must be pressurized and heated so that it is comfortable for the aircraft occupants.

Construction Materials
Steel: Low carbon steels are tough, ductile and readily weldable but are incapable of being surface hardened except by case hardening. Mild steels can be hardened, are strong but less ductile, and less weldable. They are used for fuselage and control surfaces. High carbon steels exhibit increased strength and hardness but at the sacrifice of ductility and weldabiliry. Alloy steels, such as chrome molly are very strong and resistant to impact and vibration. They are used in the fabrication of fuselages and for stressed skin structures, particularly in seaplane construction. Alloy steels containing nickel (called stainless steel) are very corrosion resistant.

Construction Materials
DURAL: An aluminum wrought ally containing copper and magnesium. It has a very high tensile strength and fatigue endurance is susceptible to corrosion but can be treated by anodizing. It is used for ribs, tanks, bulkheads, propeller blades, fittings, etc. ALCLAD: A sandwich of dural between two layers of pure aluminum (the aluminum layers constituting about 5 % of the whole). The aluminum protects the dural and prevents corrosion. Very corrosion resistant. Used in seaplane construction. Needs no anodizing

Construction Materials
MAGNESIUM ALLOY: An alloy in which magnesium form the principal constituent. Combines tensile strength with light weight (one-third lighter than aluminum). Used extensively in aircraft engine construction. Very corrodible in sea water and should always be anodized. HONEYCOMB SANDWICH CONSTRUCTION: A metal honeycomb pattern between sheets of metals. For cabin floor, door surfaces, etc., it offers the advantage of high strength/weight ratio, a smooth surface that does not buckle under load, and excellent bearing and bending properties in all directions.

Construction Materials
COMPOSITE: Are combinations of two or more materials that differ in composition or form. The constituents or elements that make up the composite retain their individual identities. In other words, the individual elements do not dissolve or otherwise merge into each other. Each can be physically identified, and exhibits a boundary between each other. WOOD: Wood and adhesive materials used in aircraft repair should meet aircraft (AN) quality standards and be purchased from reputable distributors to ensure such quality. Strict adherence to the specifications in the aircraft structuralrepair manual will ensure that the structure will be strong as the original.

Construction Materials
FABRIC: Airplanes whose fuselage structures are made of steel tubing may be covered with cotton, linen or synthetic fabric. The fabric is drawn taut either by the use of aircraft dope (cotton or linen) or by shrinking with a hot iron (synthetics such as dacron). Fabric is also used as the covering of wings whose spars and ribs are either all wood or all metal or a combination of both.

Corrosion
Corrosion must be treated as the enemy parts of an airplane. The attack may take place over an entire metal surface or it may be penetrating in nature, forming deep pits. These are a number of different types of corrosion.

Corrosion
1. Oxidation: This is produced by atmospheric conditions due to the moisture in the air. The effect is worse in the vicinity of salt water. The action consists of the dissolving of the surface by oxidation. Such oxidation is easy to detect. It may be removed and the surface treated with some preventive so further damage will not occur. 2. Intercrystalline: This type is more serious. It is caused by chemical or electrolytic action between the alloys in the metal itself. It may not become visible until considerable damage has been done. Surface protection aids very little in the prevention of this type of corrosion. The affected parts must be removed and replaced.

Corrosion
3. Dissimilar Metals: When metals of different chemical properties are in contact in the presence of moisture, the metal most easily oxidized will be subject to corrosion. 4. Stress Corrosion: When a metal part is overstressed over a long period of time under corrosive conditions, stress corrosion may result. Parts that are susceptible to stress corrosion are over tightened nuts in plumbing fittings, parts joined by taper pins that are over torque, fittings with pressed in bearings. Stress corrosion is not easy to detect until cracks begin to appear.

Corrosion
5. Corrosion fatigue: Is a type of stress corrosion that occurs where cyclic stresses are applied to a part or assembly. These stresses produce pores or cracks in the surface coating which allow moisture to penetrate. 6. Fretting Corrosion: Occurs when there is a slight movement between close fitting metal parts. The movement destroys any protective film on the metal surface and also produces fine particles of metals and oxide that tend to absorb and retain moisture.

Stresses
There are Five distinct types of stress: 1. Compression: Or crushing, as in the case of the small box. Airplane wings are subjected to compression stresses. 2. Tension: Or stretching, as in the case of the wire. Bracing wires in airplane are usually in tension. 3. Torsion: Or twisting. A screwdriver is subjected to severe torsional stress when forcing a screw into hardwood. Landing gear must be made to withstand torsional stresses.

Stresses
4. Shearing: Or cutting. The blades of scissors exert a shear stress on a piece of paper, which is sheared as a result. 5. Bending: As the name implies, means the bending of long member due to load or weight imposed on it. Aircraft spars, or beams, must resist severe bending stresses.

Loads and Loads Factors

Airplane strength is measured by the total load the wings are capable of carrying. Wing Loading: The wing loading of an airplane is the gross weight of the airplane divided by the area of lifting surfaces and is expressed in lb. Per sq. ft. Span Loading: The span loading of an airplane is the gross weight divided by the span and is expressed in lb. Per foot.

Loads and Loads Factors

Power Loading: The power loading is the gross weight of the airplane divided by the horsepower of the engine(s) and is expressed in lb. Per hp. Load Factor: The weight of airplane standing on the ground (or its weight due to gravity alone) is commonly referred to as a dead load. In flight, the weight of an airplane may be increased many times by acceleration or by change of direction. The additional loading imposed is called a live load.

Logbooks
The life of the airframe, engine(s) and propeller(s) is recorded in the Aircraft Technical Log which comprises an Airframe Log, a Record of Installations and Modifications, an Engine Log for each engine and propeller Log for each propeller. All maintenance, repairs, new installations, modifications, etc., must be completely recorded in the appropriate section of the Aircraft Technical Log. Also a record of both flight time and air time and particulars of every flight is kept in a suitable Aircraft Journey Log.

Inspection
An airplane must be inspected periodically by a qualified maintenance engineer and certified as airworthy in the Aircraft Log, as specified by regulations and as detailed in the Airworthiness Manuals.

Aircraft Classes & Categories

Aircraft are organized into different classifications depending on their configurations and intended design applications. Air craft categories can be described as airplane, rotorcraft, glider, lighter-than-air, and power-lift. Aircraft classes within these categories typically include single-engine, multi-engine, land airplane, sea airplane, helicopter, gyroplane, balloon, etc.

Aircraft Classes & Categories

Normal Category: Most small airplane fall within the normal category. Maximum gross weight operations are permitted but certain maneuvers, such as spins, steep turns, etc., are prohibited in the utility category.

Aircraft Classes & Categories

Utility Category: Airplanes that fall within this category can withstand stronger loads than those in the normal category. Certain specified maneuvers may be performed but they must be carried out at reduced weight, narrower center of gravity range and reduced airspeed. Baggage compartments and rear seats must usually be empty. When operated in the utility category, the following maneuvers are usually permitted: chandelles, lazy eights, steep turns, spins and stalls. The utility category is primarily for the purpose of instructing and training pilots in certain flight maneuvers.

Aircraft Classes & Categories

Aerobatic Category: In the aerobatic category, the positive limit load factor may be as much as 6.0 times the gross weight and the negative limit may be as much as 6.0 times the gross weight and the negative limit may be as much as 5.0 times the gross weight (depending on the particular make and model of airplane). When flying an airplane in the aerobatic category, it is essential to ensure that the weight and balance limits recommended by the manufacturer are respected. The weight and balance envelope is usually restricted when the airplane is to be flown in the aerobatic category.

Aircraft Classes & Categories

Commuter Category: Commuter category aircraft are designed to carry passengers but they are limited by their seating capacity and their overall weight.

Aircraft Classes & Categories

Transport Category: Transport category aircraft consist of airlines and other large airplanes.

Aircraft Classes & Categories

Additional Categories: The restricted category designation applies to aircraft used for special application such as aerial fire-fighting, aerial photography and survey, aerial advertising other than toward banners, and any other similar services. The limited category applies to airplane which have accepted for use in the military service. The amateur-built category is the designation which applies to homebuilt aircraft, or kit planes, that are built by their owners.