There are many parts of an airplane that all work together to be able to fly. Here are a few basic parts that make up an airplane:

 

 

 

Fuselage

The fuselage is the main part of the aircraft that holds the crew, passengers and cargo.  The fuselage can be broken down into different sections:

Cockpit: The area at the front of the airplane where the pilots fly the airplane

Cabin: The part of the fuselage

Baggage compartment: Usually located towards the rear of the aircraft, the baggage compartment holds passenger’s luggage and other cargo.

 

Wing

The wing not only creates lift, it helps maneuver and control the airspeed of the airplane.  Here are some important parts of a wing:

 

 

Ailerons: The ailerons, usually located towards the tip of the wings help the aircraft turn by banking.

Spoilers: When deployed, the spoilers decrease the airspeed of the aircraft by increasing drag on the wing.

Flaps: Flaps are used during take-off and landing to help increase lift over the wings, especially at slower airspeeds. Some airplanes have flaps on the leading edge of the wing as well,  these are called slats.

 

 

Engine

The engine is the main source of power that generates speed for the airplane.  Another name for the engine is “powerplant”.  Here are a few types of engines used to power aircrafts:

 

 

 

Empennage

The empennage is another name for the tail section of the aircraft.  This includes the vertical stabilizer and horizontal stabilizer.

 

 

Vertical Stabilizer The vertical stabilizer includes the rudder, which controls the yaw of the airplane.  The rudder is controlled by the rudder pedals in the cockpit.

Horizontal Stabilizer The horizontal stabilizer contains the elevator that controls the pitch of the airplane.

 

 

Final Questions

• What parts of the airplane can the pilot control?

• Which parts require the most maintenance?

• What parts of the airplane do you inspect during preflight?