Chapter 3: Wing and Empennage

Quiz covers wing structure (spar, ribs, skin, stringers), wing designs (monoplane, biplane, cantilever vs braced), empennage components, primary and secondary flight controls, and the four main flap types along with their effects on lift and drag.

What is the main load-bearing component of the wing that runs along its length?

The spar.

Where are the flaps and ailerons attached on the wing?

To the rear spar (toward the back of the wing).

What runs perpendicular to the spar and provides the aerofoil shape?

The ribs.

Describe the aerofoil shape of a wing.

A curved upper surface and a flatter lower surface.

What is a monoplane?

An aircraft with a single wing.

What is a biplane?

An aircraft with two sets of wings.

What is a full cantilever wing design?

A wing with no external braces to carry loads between the wing and fuselage.

What is a braced or semi-cantilever wing?

A wing that uses external braces to share the load between wing and fuselage.

Where are fuel tanks typically integrated in modern aircraft?

Into the wing structure.

What is the empennage?

The tail section of the aircraft.

To where is the rudder attached and what does it control?

Rudder attached to the vertical stabilizer; it controls yaw.

What does the elevator do?

Controls the pitch (nose up or down).

What is an all-moving tailplane also called?

A stabilator.

Name the three primary flight controls.

Ailerons, rudder, and elevator.

How are primary flight controls typically connected in small aircraft?

By a mechanical/manual flight control system using cables and pulleys (and sometimes pushrods).

What is stick force?

The feel on the control column, determined by the deflection of the control surface and the aircraft’s speed.

What is the purpose of secondary flight controls like flaps?

To improve performance: increase lift at low speed and reduce drag penalty when retracted.

Where are flaps located on the wing?

On the inner trailing edge of the wing.

What are the four main types of flap?

Plain, split, slotted, and Fowler.

Describe the plain flap.

Hinged to the back of the wing and pivots down; increases lift but also increases drag.

Describe the split flap.

Deflected from the lower surface of the wing; generates a bit more lift than plain but also more drag.

Describe the slotted flap.

Similar to plain but with a gap (slot) between flap and wing, increasing lift significantly.

Describe the Fowler flap.

A slotted flap that slides backward on tracks, increasing wing area and lift; early stage increases lift with little drag penalty.