Meet 8

VOCABULARY
(Related to Aviation)
By. Melati Pratiwi, M.Pd
PART OF AN AIRPLANE
PART OF AN AIRPLANE
 General Parts of an Airplane
1. Propeller
2. Fuselage
3. Wing
4. Horizontal Stabilizer
5. Vertical Stabilizer
6. Control Surfaces ( Ailerons, Elevator,
Rudder, Flaps)
7. Landing Gear
 Propoller
The propeller is turned by the motor of the
airplane. A combination of the
diameter and pitch of the propeller and the
speed at which the motor spins the propeller,
the propeller generates thrust to either
accelerate the airplane or maintain a constant
speed. If too little thrust is generated to
maintain a constant speed the airplane will slow
down
 Fuselage
The fuselage is the “body” of an airplane. Its
purpose is to connect all the different parts
(wing, tail etc.) together. It also houses the
power system, radio system and any other items
you wish to put inside or outside, assuming the
airplane can handle the extra weight.
 Wing
As the airplane moves through the air, air passes
over and under the wing and it generates most
of the lift required to keep the airplane in the air.
There are a few opinions as to how this lift is
generated but I will not go into it.
 Horizontal Stabilizer
The horizontal stabilizer is part of the airplane’s
tail that helps to keep the airplane stable in
the pitch axis during flight. It is also where the
elevator connects to the airplane.
 Vertical Stabilizer
The vertical stabilizer is part of the airplane’s tail
that helps to keep the airplane stable in the yaw
axis during flight. It is also where the rudder
connects to the airplane.
 Control Surfaces (Ailerons, Elevator,
Rudder, Flaps)
The control surfaces are the parts of the airplane
that you have control over so as to influence its
movement through the air. Each control surface
has a different purpose and more that one can
be used in conjunction to achieve the desired
movement on the airplane.
Control Surfaces (Ailerons, Elevator,
Rudder, Flaps)
– Ailerons: The ailerons are located on the outside
portions of the trailing edge of the wing. They
move in opposite directions and cause the
airplane to roll (or bank) to the left or right. When
looking at the airplane from behind, if the left
aileron moves down, the right aileron will move
up and the airplane will roll to the right. If the
right aileron moves down, the left aileron will
move up and the airplane will roll to the left. The
airplane rolls to the side on which the aileron is
up.
Control Surfaces (Ailerons, Elevator,
Rudder, Flaps)
– Elevator: The elevator is attached to the horizontal
stabilizer and moves up and down. It causes the
airplane to pitch up or down. When looking at the
airplane from the side, if the elevator moves up,
the airplane will pitch its nose up. If the elevator
moves down, the airplanes nose will pitch down.
Control Surfaces (Ailerons, Elevator,
Rudder, Flaps)
– Rudder: The rudder moves left and right and is
attached to the vertical stabilizer. It causes the
airplane to yaw left or right. When looking at the
airplane from the top, if the rudder moves left, the
airplane will yaw to the left. If the rudder moves
right, the airplane will yaw to the right.
Control Surfaces (Ailerons, Elevator,
Rudder, Flaps)
– Flaps: The flaps are found on the inside portions
of the trailing edge of the wing. They move in the
same direction and increase (flaps move down) or
decrease (flaps in line with wing) drag to allow the
airplane to remain airborne at slower speeds,
particularly useful for takeoff and landing.
However they are not often found on smaller
electric RC airplanes and are not usually required,
but can be a nice “scale” detail or even a
functional detail on certain RC airplanes. None of
the beginner planes covered on this website will
have or need flaps.
 Landing Gear
• The landing gear is made up of the wheels and the supporting
framework that the airplane usually lands on. Landing gear is
often omitted on some of the smaller electric RC airplanes
when flying over grass, because the wheels catch on grass
when taking off or landing. This could result in damage to the
airplane when it flips over or the if the landing gear is ripped
from the airplane. In cases where the landing gear is removed
the airplane is landed on its belly. One also finds retractable
landing gear which allows for the landing gear to be retracted
in to the airplane during flight so as to reduce drag and allow
the airplane to fly faster and more efficiently. Steerable
landing gear refers to landing gear that one can control using
the transmitter so as to steer the airplane while it is still on
the ground to improve the airplane’s ground handling.