Aircraft Component Nomenclature Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Goal: Familiarize with major aircraft components (assemblies)
• Focus on major parts like wing, fuselage, tail, etc., not minor parts (e.g., rivets, bolts)

Principal Aircraft Axes

• Normal axis: Vertical (top to bottom)
• Lateral axis: Along/parallel to wings
• Longitudinal axis: From tail to nose
• Pitch: Rotation about lateral axis (nose direction changes)
• Yaw: Rotation about normal axis (nose side to side movement)
• Roll: Rotation about longitudinal axis (wing lifts on one side, lowers on other)

Components of Aircraft

1. Wing

• Main Component: Essential for aircraft
• Contains several sub-assemblies
• Edges:
  • Leading Edge: First contact with air
  • Trailing Edge: Rear side
• Airfoil/Aerofoil: Wing cross-section
• Flight Control Surfaces: Help control flight
• High Lift Devices: Enhance lift for takeoff/landing

Ailerons

• Location: Outboard
• Opposite directions for roll control (one up, one down)
• Large aircraft: Inboard and outboard ailerons for stress management and rolling speed

Flaps

• Location: Trailing edge, inboard to ailerons
• Types:
  • Simple Hinged Flap: Moves down across a hinge
  • Split Flap: Lower surface moves, upper remains stationary
  • Fowler Flaps: Move down and back, increasing wing area and lift
  • Slotted Flaps: Create air gaps between the moving parts
• Flap-a-rons: Combine features of flaps and ailerons (both roll control and lift improvement)

Spoilers

• Kill lift during landing, increase drag, and reduce landing distance
• Not air brakes

Leading Edge Devices

• Slats: Increase lift, similar to flaps but located at leading edge
  • Fixed-Type Slat: Permanent fixture
  • Retractable Slat: Can be retracted for smooth cruise
  • Kruger Flap: Very sharp curvature flap on the leading edge

Miscellaneous Wing Devices

• Flap Track Fairings: Covers for flap mechanisms to reduce drag
• Nacelle Shape: Oval shape to maintain ground clearance

2. Fuselage (Body)

• Main body of the aircraft

3. Empennage (Tail)

• Provides stability and control in pitch and yaw directions

Assignments

• Research aircraft with more than triple-slotted Fowler flaps
• Investigate the reason for non-circular nacelle shapes

Conclusion

• Importance of recognizing each component’s function and location
• Understanding control surfaces and their roles in flight mechanics