Section 2 EO M130.02 – DESCRIBE THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF AN AIRPLANE

Aircraft

“An aircraft is a device that is used or intended to be used for flight in the air. Some examples of aircraft are hot air balloons, blimps, gliders, planes, helicopters, and hang-gliders.”

Aviation Safety Board, 2007.

Airplane

“An airplane is a power-driven, heavier-than-air aircraft deriving its lift in flight from aerodynamic reactions (lift) on surfaces that remain fixed under given conditions of flight (wings).”

MacDonald, 2006.

The fuselage is the body of the aircraft, designed to accommodate the crew, passengers and cargo. The cockpit or crew flight deck is the part of the fuselage where the pilot and flight crew operate the aircraft. The fuselage is the structural body to which the wings, the tail section, landing gear and (in most small aircraft) the engine are attached.

Note: From Free Online Private Pilot Ground School. (2007). Private Pilot Ground School. Retrieved December 14, 2011 from http://www.free-online-private-pilot-ground-school.com/aircraft-structure.html

Figure 1  Airplane Components

This objective of this activity is to familiarize the cadet with the five components of an airplane.

Basic Airplane Component Puzzle Pieces, one set per group.

Divide the class into groups of four or less. Cadets will work in the same groups for all the puzzle activities.

1.Provide each group with an envelope of puzzle pieces.

2.Give the groups one minute to put together the puzzle.

Nil.

The fuselage is fitted with a wing on each side. The primary purpose of the wings is to support the aircraft in flight by producing lift.

The wing root is where the wing meets the fuselage.

The wing tip is the part farthest from the fuselage.

The leading edge is the front edge of the wing running from wing root to wing tip. The trailing edge is the back edge of the wing running from wing root to wing tip.

Ailerons are moveable surfaces that are hinged to the trailing edge of each wing, close to the wingtip. The ailerons control roll. Roll is the banking of the aircraft to the left and the right. The ailerons move in opposite directions to each other.

Flaps are moveable surface that are hinged to the trailing edge of each wing, closer to the wing root than the ailerons. They can be used during landing and take-off to provide more controlled flight at slower airspeeds. Flaps are operated with a lever or hand-wheel in the cockpit.

The objective of this activity is to familiarize the cadet with the fuselage and wings.

Fuselage and Wing Puzzle Pieces, one set per group.

Cadets will work in the same groups as the previous puzzle activity.

1.Provide each group with an envelope of puzzle pieces.

2.Give the groups one minute to put together the puzzle.

Nil.

The empennage refers to the whole tail section of a plane. It includes the horizontal stabilizer, elevator, vertical stabilizer, and rudder.

The horizontal stabilizer is at the back of the aircraft, and helps keep the aircraft stable as it flies through the air. The horizontal stabilizer does not move.

The elevator is hinged to the horizontal stabilizer and is operated by moving the control column forward and backward. The elevator controls pitch. Pitch is the up and down movement of the aircraft’s nose.

The vertical stabilizer, also called the fin, is an upright surface on the empennage. It helps keep the aircraft stable as it flies through the air. The vertical stabilizer does not move.

The rudder is hinged to the fin and is operated by the rudder pedals in the cockpit. The rudder controls yaw. Yaw is the side-to-side movement of the aircraft.

Note: From Free Online Private Pilot Ground School. (2007). Private Pilot Ground School. Retrieved December 14, 2011 from http://www.free-online-private-pilot-ground-school.com/aircraft-structure.html

Figure 2  Empennage Components

The objective of this activity is to familiarize the cadet with the empennage.

Empennage Puzzle Pieces, one set per group.

Cadets will work in the same groups as the previous puzzle activity.

1.Provide each group with an envelope of puzzle pieces.

2.Give the groups one minute to put together the puzzle.

Nil.

Landing gear on an airplane is like the tires on a car. The landing gear supports the aircraft when it is on the ground and absorbs the shock of landing. All aircraft have their landing gear under the main part of the fuselage or wings. Landing gear can be fixed or retractable. Fixed gear is attached to the airplane in a permanent position. Retractable gear can fold up into the wings or the fuselage.

There are two main landing gear configurations. Both configurations have the main wheels or main gear toward the middle of the aircraft. In a nose wheel configuration (also called tricycle) there is another wheel or gear under the nose. In a tail wheel configuration (also called conventional or tail dragger) there is another wheel or gear under the tail.

Note: From Bush-Planes.com. Best bush planes: flying. Retrieved December 14, 2011 from http://www.bush-planes.com/index.html

Figure 3  Nose Gear v. Tail Gear

Power is produced by an internal combustion engine (the same as a car) with a two or three bladed propeller or a gas turbine (jet) engine. A jet can be used to power a propeller – this is called a turboprop engine.

The cowling (also called the nacelle) is like the hood of a car. It encloses the engine and streamlines the airplane to reduce drag. The cowling provides cooling of the engine by ducting cool air around the engine.

This objective of this activity is to familiarize the cadet with the landing gear and propulsion system.

Landing Gear and Propulsion System Puzzle Pieces, one set per group.

Cadets will work in the same groups as the previous puzzle activity.

1.Provide each group with an envelope of puzzle pieces.

2.Give the groups one minute to assemble the puzzle.

Nil.