The Airplane

Question 1

Wing strut

Answer 1

Bracing that hold apart the wings of a biplane or multiplane, also helps to maintain the correct angle of incidence for the connected wing panels.

Question 2

Aileron

Answer 2

Used in pairs to Laterally control the aircraft in roll (movement around the longitudinal axis). Hinged surface in the trailing edge of an aircraft wing.

Question 3

Stabilizer

Answer 3

Horizontal tail or tail plane towards the rear of the aircraft. Contains the elevator.
Vertical stabilizer contains rudder.
Horizontal controls longitudinal (pitch) or vertical stabilizer controls directional (yaw).

Question 4

Transmutation of loads (internally)

Answer 4

The load on a wing comes first on the skin it is in transmitted to the ribs and from these to the spars and thence carried into the fuselage.

Question 5

Transmission of loads (externally)

Answer 5

In an externally braced wing part of the load is taken by the bracing struts or the flying or landing wires, as the case may be, and then transmitted to the fuselage.

Question 6

Flaps

Answer 6

High-lift device used to reduce the stalling speed of an aircraft wing at a given weight.
When fitted these form a part of the wing structure. Like the ailerons, they are usually hinged to the rear spar.

Question 7

Wing tip bow

Answer 7

This is generally a metal tube, curved to give the wingtip the particular shape required.

Question 8

Wing root

Answer 8

The section of the wing nearest the fuselage. And low wing airplanes, it is reinforced to permit the passengers and crew to walk on it.

Question 9

Chord

Answer 9

An imaginary straight line joining the leading and trailing edges of the wing.

Question 10

Empennage

Answer 10

Tail section

Question 11

Elevators

Answer 11

Controls the pitch. Surfaces hinged along the trailing edge of the stabilizer to give longitudinal control.

Question 12

Stabilator

Answer 12

One piece pivoting, horizontal stabilizer

Question 13

Stabilizer / tailplane

Answer 13

An airfoil placed at the rear end of the fuselage to balance the airplane and provide longitudinal stability.

Question 14

Fin

Answer 14

I fixed vertical surface placed ahead of the stern post to provide directional stability. The Finn is usually offset from the centre to compensate for the corkscrew motion of the slipstream from the revolving propeller.

Question 15

Rudder

Answer 15

A movable surface hinged to the fin to give directional control.

Question 16

Trim tab

Answer 16

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 cock-pit flight controls during the various phases of flight.

Question 17

Canard

Answer 17

Incorporates a horizontal stabilizer assembly at the front of the plane.

Question 18

Turboprop engine

Answer 18

Gas turbine, or jet, engine used to drive a propeller.

Question 19

Cowling

Answer 19

Enclosed the engine and streamlined the airplane to reduce drag.

Question 20

Cowl flaps

Answer 20

On high performance airplanes. Used to control the amount of cooling air circulating around the engine.

Question 21

Engine mountings

Answer 21

The engine is supported by a structure, usually of steel tubing welded together, called the engine mount, which is made flexible to absorb vibration from the engine and prevent it being transmitted to the fuselage. This is usually accomplished by engine mount bushings which are made springy in the direction of the engine rotation but rigid otherwise, in order to hold the engine sturdy fore and aft.

Question 22

Firewall

Answer 22

Between the main structure and the engine. Made of heavy stainless steel or often a sandwich of asbestos between two sheets of dural.

Question 23

Types of fixed gear configurations

Answer 23

Split axle, tripod, single spring leaf cantilever and single strut

Question 24

Advantages of tricycle gear

Answer 24

Nose over tendencies are reduced. Ground looping tendencies are reduced. Visibility over nose when taxiing, taking off or landing is superior. Greater maneuverability on the ground under high wind conditions due to negative angle of attack of the wings. Greater controllability on the ground in crosswind conditions.

Question 25

Advantages of tailwheel configuration

Answer 25

The tailwheel has less parasite drag than a nose wheel due to its smaller size. The tailwheel is cheaper and easier to build and maintain. A broken tailwheel will not result in as much damage as would a broken nose gear.

Question 26

Three types of aileron control systems

Answer 26

Cables and pulleys. Push and pull rods. Torque tubes.

Question 27

Three Elevator or stabilator control systems.

Answer 27

Cables and pulleys. Rocking beam and cable. Push and pull rod.

Question 28

Bungees

Answer 28

Adjustable spring tension used to exert pressure on the control surface to maintain the trimmed position.

Question 29

Anti-servo tabs

Answer 29

trimming devices on stabilators

Question 30

Servo tabs

Answer 30

Found on most larger airplanes. Connected directly to the control column.

Question 31

Compression

Answer 31

“Crushing”. Airplane wings are subjected to compression stresses.

Question 32

Tension

Answer 32

“Stretching”. Bracing wires are usually in tension.

Question 33

Torsion

Answer 33

“Twisting”. Landing gear must be made to withstand torsional stresses.

Question 34

Shearing

Answer 34

“Cutting”.

Question 35

Bending

Answer 35

Spars, or beams must resist severe bending stresses.

Question 36

Wing loading

Answer 36

Gross weight decided by the area of the lifting surfaces. Expressed in lb per sq. ft.

Question 37

Span loading

Answer 37

Gross weight divided by the span. Expressed in lb. per foot.

Question 38

Power loading

Answer 38

Gross weight divided by horsepower of the engine(s). Expressed in lb. per hp.

Question 39

Dead load vs live load

Answer 39

Weight of airplane on ground (gravity alone) or in air increased by acceleration (rate of change of speed and/or change of direction)