Five Basic Aircraft Parts

Attempting to list all the different kinds aircraft parts may take forever as different types of aircraft have different parts. However, there are a number of components which are common to most types of aircraft. Read on to learn more about some of these standard components.

An aircraft’s fuselage is where the crew and payload are located. The payload is a general term which refers to the passengers or any type of cargo loaded onto the aircraft. Fuselages tend to be long and cylindrical or rectangular in shape. All of the other components which make up the plane are connected to the fuselage.

It is the aircraft’s wing which helps make the vehicle fly. However, unlike an animal’s wings, this particular type of wing does not flap. Instead, mechanisms within the wing produce the lift that makes the plane fly. Planes are commonly made up of two wings connected on each side of the fuselage. The wing’s distinct shape is known as an airfoil. When seen through its cross-section, the front end is thicker and rounded while the back-end is like a blade.

Among the aircraft’s parts, it is the engine which provides its power. There are many types and models of engines. To make things simpler, engines can be classified into two key groups. Up until the Second World War, aircraft used piston engines powered by propellers. These are still found in smaller aircraft used in general aviation. Most of the larger modern planes use jet engines. Depending on the model, the jet engine can be located within the fuselage, attached to the fuselage or below the wing.

Equally as important to the wing is the tail. It may be smaller than the wing but it provides the aircraft stability during flight. The tail consists of horizontal and vertical stabilizers that allow the aircraft to return to its state of equilibrium if it comes across any disturbances.

Attached to the back of each wing are aircraft parts known as flaps and ailerons. Both parts tilt up and down to increase the wing curve or its surface area. In practice, these allow the pilot to maneuver and control the airplane up and down and to turn.