Wing support struts and cables are mostly made from steel. In some aircraft wings, external wires or struts are used to support the wing and carry the landing and aerodynamic loads. They are internally supported by structural members and the aircraft’s skin. What this means is that they are built in such a way that they don’t require any external bracing. The particular design of the wings for any aircraft depends on several factors including the desired speed at takeoff, landing and in flight, the desired rate of climb, use of the airplane, and size and weight of the aircraft.Īircrafts wings are often of complete cantilever design. Editorial Team Wing StructureĪircraft wings lift it into the air. This angle is called the wing dihedral angle and it affects the aircraft’s lateral stability. They might extend perpendicular to the fuselage’s horizontal plain or can angle down or up slightly. The wing tip can be pointed, rounded or square.Īircraft wings may be attached at the bottom of the fuselage, mid-fuselage or at the top.

One or both edges of an aircraft wing can be tapered so that it is narrower at the tip. The amount of lift an aircraft generates, control at different operating speeds, stability and balance all change as the aircraft wing’s shape is changed.īoth the trailing edge and the leading edge of an aircraft wing may be curved or straight or one edge might be curved and the other straight.

Wing configurations vary to provide different flight characteristics. So to help you out, we are going to discuss some wing configurations, wing structure and some common types of aircraft wings. If you are fond of airplanes or interested in learning how planes fly, you may want to learn about different types of aircraft wings or propellers used in aircrafts. Attached to the body of an aircraft at different angles, these wings come in different shapes. Aircraft designers have created a variety of wings with different aerodynamic properties. Aircraft wings are airfoils that create lift when moved rapidly through the air.

Aircraft wing aspect ratio calculator