All About the Different Parts of an Airplane

General Parts of an Airplane:

• Propeller: 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. Here is a link that discusses the concept of lift in a little more detail.

• 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.