Airplane Nomencature

Question 1

Vertical axis refers to what?

Answer 1

Yaw

Question 2

Longitudinal axis refers to what?

Answer 2

Roll

Question 3

Lateral axis refers to what?

Answer 3

Pitch

Question 4

Pitch is described as:

Answer 4

Motion around the lateral axis

Question 5

Yaw is described as:

Answer 5

Motion around the vertical axis

Question 6

Roll is described as:

Answer 6

Motion around the longitudinal axis

Question 7

Primary Structure

Answer 7

Structure that if failed would cause loss of the aircraft

Question 8

Secondary Structure

Answer 8

Structure that failure would not cause loss of the aircraft

Question 9

Fuselage

Answer 9

Center load carrying portion of the aircraft

Question 10

Empennage

Answer 10

Aft structure of the aircraft that includes the vertical & horizontal stabilizers

Question 11

Horizontal Stabilizer

Answer 11

Aft lifting surface that trims the aircraft pitching movement

Question 12

Vertical Stabilizer

Answer 12

Aft surface that gives the aircraft directional stability

Question 13

Dihedral

Answer 13

Angle of the wing from wing root to tip, provides stability

Question 14

Flap

Answer 14

Wing trailing edge devise that adds lift and drag when extended

Question 15

Aileron

Answer 15

Control surface on the wing trailing edge that gives roll control

Question 16

Elevator

Answer 16

Control surface on the trailing edge of the horizontal stabilizer that gives pitch control

Question 17

Rudder

Answer 17

Control surface on the trailing edge of the vertical stabilizer that gives directional control

Question 18

Elevon

Answer 18

Control surface that combines the function of the elevators and the ailerons

Question 19

Ruddervator

Answer 19

Control surface that combines the function of the rudder and the elevator

Question 20

Flaperon

Answer 20

Control surface that combines the function of the flaps and ailerons

Question 21

Canard

Answer 21

A lifting surface that trims the pitching movement of the aircraft

Question 22

Span

Answer 22

A dimension along the length of the wing

Question 23

Chord

Answer 23

Line drawn from the wing leading edge to the trailing edge

Question 24

Leading edge

Answer 24

Forward most part of the wing

Question 25

Trailing edge

Answer 25

Aft most part of the wing

Question 26

Wing Root

Answer 26

Thickest portion of the wing, next to the fuselage

Question 27

Wing tip

Answer 27

Outboard most part of the wing

Question 28

MAC

Answer 28

Mean aerodynamic chord, the average length of the leading and trailing edges of the wing averaged lengthwise.

Question 29

Fuselage Station

Answer 29

A measurement point along the longitudinal axis of the aircraft

Question 30

Wing Station

Answer 30

A measurement along the lateral axis with the center of the aircraft as 0

Question 31

Wing Carry Through

Answer 31

Wing structure that carries the stresses through the fuselage

Question 32

Main Landing Gear

Answer 32

Gear that supports the major weight of the aircraft

Question 33

Nose landing gear

Answer 33

Fwd gear on a tricycle landing gear aircraft

Question 34

Spar

Answer 34

Major structural element of the wing that runs span wise

Question 35

Rib

Answer 35

Wing reinforcing structure that runs cord wise

Question 36

Longeron

Answer 36

Fuselage structural member that runs lengthwise on the fuselage

Question 37

Frame

Answer 37

Fuselage structure that runs laterally on the aircraft

Question 38

Skin

Answer 38

the outer shell of the aircraft

Question 39

Stringers

Answer 39

Structural members that attach to the skin and run lengthwise on the aircraft fuselage

Question 40

Radome

Answer 40

Shell at the front of the aircraft that houses the radar antenna

Question 41

Engine Pylon

Answer 41

Structure to support the engines

Question 42

Engine Nacelle

Answer 42

Structure that gives wing mounted engines their aerodynamic shape

Question 43

Spoilers

Answer 43

Secondary flight control surface that destroys lift

Question 44

Fairing

Answer 44

Non load bearing structure that provides aerodynamic shape