Airplanes Essay Research Paper One of the

Airplanes Essay, Research Paper

One of the first things that is likely to be noticed

during a visit to the local airport is the wide variety of

airplane styles and designs. Although, at first glance, it

may be seen that airplanes look quite different from one

another, in the long run their major components are quite

similar. These similarities lie in the fuselage, wing,

empennage, landing gear, and powerplant. The four forces of

flight which all planes have in common are lift, weight,

thrust, and drag.

The fuselage serves several functions. Besides being a

common attachment point for the other major components, it

houses the cabin, or cockpit, which contains seats for the

occupants and the controls for the airplane. The fuselage

usually has a small baggage compartment and may include

additional seats for passengers.

When air flows around the wings of an airplane, it

generates a force called “lift” that helps the airplane fly.

Wings are contoured to take maximum advantage of this force.

Wings may be attached at the top, middle, or lower portion of

the fuselage. These designs are referred to as high-, mid-,

and low-wing, respectively. The number of wings can also

vary. Airplanes with a single set of wings are referred to

as monoplanes, while those with two sets are called biplanes.

To help fly the airplane, the wings have two types of

control surfaces attached to the rear, or trailing, edges.

They are referred to as ailerons and flaps. Ailerons extend

from about the midpoint of each wing outward to the tip.

They move in opposite directions – when one aileron goes up,

the other goes down. Flaps extend outward from the fuselage

to the midpoint of each wing. They always move in the same

direction. If one flap is down, the other one is also down.

The empennage consists of the vertical stabilizer, or

fin, and the horizontal stabilizer. These two surfaces are

stationary and act like the feathers on an arrow to steady

the airplane and help maintain a straight path through the

air.

The rudder is attached to the back of the vertical

stabilizer. Used to move the airplane’s nose left and right.

Actually, using the rudder and ailerons in combination during

flight to initiate a turn.

The elevator is attached to the back of the horizontal

stabilizer. During flight it is used to move the nose up and

down to direct the airplane to the desired altitude, or

height.

Most airplanes have a small, hinged section at the back

of the elevator called a trim tab. Its purpose is to relieve

the pressure it must be held on the control wheel to keep the

nose in the desired position. In most small airplanes, the

trim tab is controlled with a wheel or a crank in the

cockpit.

Some empennage designs vary from the type of horizontal

stabilizer. They have a one-piece horizontal stabilizer that

pivots up and down from a central hinge point. This type of

design, called a stabilator, requires no elevator. Move the

stabilator using the control wheel, just as in an elevator.

When you pull back, the nose moves up; when you push forward,

the nose moves down. An antiservo tab is mounted at the back

of the stabilator, to provide a control “feel” similar to

what you experience with an elevator. Without the antiservo

tab, control forces from the stabilator would be so light

that it might might be “over controlled” the airplane or move

the control wheel too far to obtain the desired result. The

antiservo tab also functions as a trim tab.

The landing gear absorbs landing loads and supports the

airplane on the ground. It typically is made up of three

wheels. The two main wheels are located on either side of

the fuselage. The third may be positioned either at the nose

or at the tail. If it is located at the tail, it is called a

tailwheel. In this case, the airplane is said to have

conventional landing gear.

Conventional gear is common on older airplanes, as well

as on some newer ones. It is desirable for operations on

unimproved fields, because of the added clearance amid the

propeller and the ground. However, airplanes with this type

of gear are more difficult to handle during ground

operations.

When the third wheel is located on the nose, it is

called a nosewheel. This design is referred to as tricycle

gear. An airplane with this type of gear has a steerable

nosewheel, which you control through use of the rudder

pedals.

Landing gear can also be classified as either fixed or

retractable. Fixed gear always remains extended, while

retractable gear can be stowed for flight to reduce air

resistance and increase airplane performance.

Just as shock absorbers are needed on a car, some shock

absorbing

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