How many times have you flown and gazed at the wings or planes of the aircraft? Such an identifying element deserves to be talked about a little more: how many types of planes an aircraft can have, what functions they have, what maintenance tasks they are subjected to. Let’s get to know this part of the aircraft a little better.
Why Planes? A Brief History
There are so many things that we take for granted that we may not have asked ourselves why an airplane needs planes (which is what aircraft wings are called) to fly.
Yes, it is true that, since the beginning of time, man has invented all kinds of gadgets to emulate birds. And that all those inventions… had wings like those of birds. But there’s a reason.
It all has to do with aerodynamics. To summarize it a lot, because this would involve talking at length about physical principles, the planes are largely responsible for lift, one of the four forces at work in airplanes . Their shape causes the air to flow at a higher speed at the top than at the bottom. In other words, the planes (or wings) modify the speed and pressure of the air. That is why birds fly. And that is why man has always imitated them.
What types of Planes Does an Airplane Have?
Here are some of the most recognizable and common types:
- Straight planes. These were used by the first airplanes and are still found in small airplanes. They allow stable flight at low speeds, but offer a lot of air resistance, which is why large aircraft, such as commercial aircraft, no longer use them.
- Delta. You will remember them from aircraft like the Concorde, but they have fallen into disuse in commercial aviation because they have a lot of drag at low altitudes, plus, at high angles of attack (which we have already discussed) there is a large airflow separation.
- Arrow-shaped. This is currently the most common form of aircraft planes. As they are inclined backwards, they offer less air resistance and improve efficiency at high speeds, which impacts sustainability: aircraft fly faster and use less fuel.
- Variable arrow or variable geometry. They can change their arrangement during flight, and be perpendicular to the aircraft when they are most efficient straight or tilt in the shape of an arrow in the rest of the flight.
Wing tip
As far as shapes are concerned, the different wing tips (or winglets, or wing tip devices) are also very important for an aircraft (we already talked about all their types in another post); they improve aerodynamic efficiency and reduce fuel burn, as well as improving safety and the flying experience itself.
What are aircraft planes used for?
Let’s leave aside the obvious (they keep the plane in the air) and let’s dwell on other, perhaps more unknown functions.
- They provide flight control. They are in charge of balance control and also around the longitudinal axis.
- They increase the area and the lift coefficient.
- They ensure the aircraft’s ability to take off and land.
- Accommodate fuel.
- Incorporate lights and signaling (such as navigation, position, etc.).
- They can house part of the landing gear (or all of it in some cases).
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What kind of maintenance do they undergo?
It doesn’t take much thought to realize that, among the maintenance tasks of an aircraft, is the inspection of its planes. These are some of the maintenance processes to which they are subjected:
- Visual inspection. As we have already seen, visual inspection or PS (Periodic Service) checks are very frequent. In these inspections, the persons in charge observe possible damage that can be detected by sight (by an expert, of course). Cracks, corrosion, signs of wear… Although they are usually not serious problems at the time, their detection and repair is essential to prevent them from getting worse.
- Non-destructive testing (NDT). These are “non-invasive” tests that detect those faults that cannot be seen with the naked eye, and some of them are quite similar to any medical test that we do for just that, to see if we are healthy. Some of the NDT are ultrasonic tests, magnetic particle analysis, liquid penetrant, eddy current, X-rays, infrared thermography…
- Preventive maintenance. Cleaning, lubrication of moving components, application of anti-corrosion products, etc., are part of the regular maintenance of aircraft planes, which extends their useful life and ensures that they are always in the best possible condition.
- Repairs. If any damage is detected during PS inspections or NDT, it is time for repair. And, depending on the importance of the detected failure, some part may or may not be modified to ensure the integrity of the structure of the planes.
- Modernizations and modifications. We mentioned before the wing tip devices and yes, this can be a common modification or update in an aircraft plane. But so can any other action aimed at increasing safety, complying with new and demanding aeronautical standards or improving the aircraft’s efficiency.