1. Airplane Components and Systems
Lesson 1

2. Introduction Who is this instructor? Who are you? Experience Goals Fun
What do you do for fun?
Any past flying experience?
What are your goals?

3. Objective
The objective of this lesson is to familiarize you with the airplane’s components and systems. You will be able to understand how they function, including the aircraft’s engine and instruments.

4. Elements Airplane Components Airplane Engine and Propellers
Ignition System
Fuel System
Flight Instruments

5. Airplane Components

6. Fuselage
An aircraft’s main body structure which houses the flight crew, passengers, and cargo and to which the wings, tail and, in most single-engined airplanes, engines are attached.

7. Wings
An airfoil extending from the fuselage of an airplane, whose principal function is providing lift.

8. How do wings work? Bernoulli’s Principle!
Wings have a curved upper surface (camber) that causes air to flow faster over the top than under the bottom of the wing. This causes a lower pressure on the upper part of the wing and higher pressure on the lower side of the wing.

9. Parts of a Wing
Ailerons – the movable area of a wing that controls roll of an aircraft by working opposite one another.
Controlled by yoke or stick.
Flaps – a movable part of a wing set at the trailing edge and used to increase lift and/or drag by changing the camber of the wing.

10. Empennage
The tail assembly of an aircraft, including the horizontal and vertical stabilizers, elevators, and rudder.

11. Elevator
Movable flap connected to the horizontal stabilizer. When moved upwards it pitches the nose up and tail down (climb) and when the elevator is moved downward it pitches the nose down and tail up (dive).
Controlled by yoke or stick.

12. Rudder
Movable flap connected to the vertical stabilizer. Controls the yawing movement (left and right) of the aircraft.
Controlled by rudder pedals.

13. Landing Gear
Tricycle – has a nosewheel and normally rests with the tail in the air and nose on the ground.
Conventional – also known as taildragger, it rests with the tail on the ground.

14. Brake Systems
Most training aircraft use hydraulically actuated, disc type brakes that are controlled independently.

15. Airplane Engine and Propeller

16. Reciprocating Engines
Carbureted - Mixes fuel with air and injects into cylinder. Chance of icing (20-70 degrees Fahrenheit).
Fuel Injected – Injects fuel into cylinder directly. Small chance of icing.
Oil System
Air Cooled

17. Propellers Fixed Pitch – blade is at fixed angle.
Constant Speed – blade changes through a governor to keep it rotating at a constant RPM. This optimizes the propeller for all parts of flight.

18. Ignition System Magnetos Dual-Systems Provide spark to spark plugs
Self-Sustaining
Dual-Systems
Provide reliability in case of a failure
Better performance from dual ignition

19. Fuel System
Most training aircraft have gravity fed systems with an engine driven or electric pump for backup.
Mixture controls amount of fuel going to the engine.
Throttle controls engine power
Prop control, controls prop RPM

20. Fuel Types Not part of the airplane but just as important! 80/87 - Red
100/130 - Green
100 LL - Blue
Jet A – Clear to Straw Colored

21. Flight Instruments

22. Pitot/Static Airspeed – Ram air pressure versus static pressure.
Altimeter – Static pressure versus aneroid wafer.
Vertical Speed Indicator – Static pressure versus calibrated leak.

23. Gyroscopic Instruments
Vacuum System
Attitude Indicator
Heading Indicator
Electric System
Turn Coordinator

24. Magnetic Compass Subject to errors from: Variation Deviation
Magnetic Dip
Northerly Turning Error (UNOS)
Accelleration Error (ANDS)

25. Summary Airplane Components Airplane Engines and Propellers
Ignition System
Fuel System
Flight Instruments

26. Questions
Any questions or comments?