An aircraft adheres to similar principles of flight that birds do — it must overcome gravitational forces to achieve lift. In its simplest definition, the wings of an airplane curve the flow of air around them in order to generate lift. The fuselage, or body of the airplane, is a long hollow tube which holds all the pieces of an airplane together. The fuselage is hollow to reduce weight. As with most other parts of the airplane, the shape of the fuselage is normally determined by the mission of the aircraft.
Lift is created mostly around the wings because the air flows over the top of the wing and directs the air downwards. This is why wings are designed to tilt from the horizontal plane of the aircraft. This is commonly referred to as the path of flight. Once an airplane is going fast enough, the downward air-flow starts produces enough pressure or force to overcome the weight and gravity that is holding the airplane to the ground. An airplane can achieve flight when enough force is produced to overcome weight and gravity.
The most important variable in generating lift is the tilt angle, or angle of attack. A pilot adjusts the angle of attack to control lift: too high of an angle of attack will stall the airplane— this is called the critical angle of attack. It is the difference between pitch angle and flight path angle when the flight path angle is referenced to the atmosphere. An airplane can reach a high angle of attack even with the nose below the horizon, when the flight path angle is a steep descent.
Another famous contributor to the laws of aerodynamics was Swiss mathematician Daniel Bernoulli. He stated that pressure is reduced as air increases in velocity. This principle supports flight along with Newton’s three laws of motion. As air flow comes into contact with the leading edge of a wing, it splits into two, flowing along the upper and lower surfaces. Because a typical aircraft has a cambered wing, the air will flow faster over the top and slower on the bottom: this means that there is higher pressure on the bottom surface of the wing. As the airplane gathers speed the amount of lift increases according to Newton and Bernoulli's principles of aerodynamics.
Another important component of wing design is ailerons. This structure is a hinged section close to the trailing edge of the wing that allows pilots to bank the aircraft left or right. They work in opposition to one another: as the right aileron is moved upward, the left aileron is moved downward. This creates an unbalanced side force component which causes the aircraft’s flight path to curve. With greater downward deflection of the airflow, the lift will increase upward.
One last important variable to mention is drag: the aerodynamic force that creates resistance against the forward motion of a plane. Thrust is generated by the engines to overcome drag and is supplemented by the aerodynamic shape of an aircraft; it’s key to remember that an aircraft is designed to balance out contradictory forces. All components contribute to the flight cycle— whether it be the engines, the wings, empennage, etc. The next time you see an aircraft, take a moment to admire the brilliance of its wings.
At NSN Fulfillment, owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, we can help you find all your wing components for the aerospace, civil aviation, and defense industries. We’re always available and ready to help you find all the parts and equipment you need, 24/7-365. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@nsnfulfillment.com or call us at +1-714-705-4780.
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