AEROPLANE &

AIRFRAME

AEROPLANE

The Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) defines

an “Aeroplane” as follow:

Power driven, heavier-than-air-aircraft, deriving it’s lift in

flight from aerodynamic reactions on surfaces that remain

fixed under given condition of flight.

AIRFRAME

Airframe is the term used to describe the structure

of an aeroplane. It includes the fuel tanks and lines,

fuselage, wings, flight controls, tail assembly, and

landing gear.

It does not include flight instruments and

aero-engine installed on the aeroplane.

Parts of an Aeroplane

* Fuselage. Central body of the airframe , designed to accommodate the crew, passengers, cargo etc. It is the structural body of the aeroplane. The wings, tail, landing gear and engine are attached to it.

* Wings. Surfaces that create lift. One pair of wings (monoplane) two (biplane) or three (triplane) They may be attached in various position on the fuselage;

top (high wing), bottom (low wing) middle (mid wing)

* Tail section : Consist of fixed vertical stabilizer (fin), rudder, elevator. It provides longitudinal stability and flight control

* Propulsion : Power plant that provide thrust, equipped with propeller or jet aero-engine

* Landing gear: To support the weigh of the aeroplane on the ground and allow for

movement, steering, and braking on the ground.

From the very beginning of aviation builders have strived to build

aeroplanes with lightweight yet strong materials.

The fundamental of aeroplane construction has not change since the

very beginning of aviation. Innovation and evolution reflect the

technology available at the time

* Wings camber development

* The quest to reduce drag

* Innovation in flight control

* Advancement in propulsion system

Mongolfieres

Humans took to the air for the first time in 1783. The

flight occurred on November 21, 1783 in Paris, France

in a hot air balloon.

The hot air balloon weight 850 Kg and carried two people.

It lift off and took flight over Paris at an altitude of 1000

meters. It left Paris behind and landed in a hilly area.

Distance covered was 9 kilometers.

First Flight of an Aeroplane

October 14 1897

Clement Ader. Avion III

With the backing of the French War office, Ader developed and constructed the

Avion III. Equipped with two four blades propeller each powered by a steam

engine of 30 hp. After extensive taxi tests Ader attempted a flight at Satory on

October 14 1897. Eye witness stated the Avion rolled, took off and before the

official commission, flew a distance of more than 300 yards (300 m). The

commission was not impressed and withdrew its funding but kept the results

secret. After the Wright brothers made their flight, the commission released report

on Ader's flights, stating that they were successful.

1909 Levasseur Antoinette

The Levasseur Antoinette aeroplane is one of the most well known designs from the early days of aviation. With this type several records were flown including the first cross-country flight to occur in Europe (Germany) and the first time an aeroplane reached 1000 m in altitude (3300 Feet ASL).

* High angle of attack leading edge of the wing

* Max take off weight : 1212.8 lbs.

* Max power rating : 54 hp.

* V8 air-cooled aero-engine

* Tri-cycle landing gear (skid at the front and skid at the tail)

* Wooden front fuselage

1915 Morane-Saulnier Type N

The Morane-Saulnier N was a French monoplane fighter aeroplane of WW1 .The Type entered service in April 1915 with Aeronautique Militaire, the Royal Flying Corps and the Imperial Russian Air Force

* Monoplane

* Engine enclose behind aerodynamic cowling to reduce drag

* Large metal spinner to streamline the aeroplane and reduce drag

* Max speed: 144 km/h (provided by 80 hp air-cooled radial engine)

* Max Altitude: 6 560 feet in 10 minutes

* Full deflection Elevators. No ailerons: used wing warping

* Rounded fuselage to streamline the aeroplane and reduce drag

1916 SPAD VII

The SPAD S.VII was a highly successful biplane produced by Societe Pour

L’Aviation et ses Deriver (SPAD) during WW1. It equipped several units of

the French Air Force, Royal Flying Corps and Italian Air Force.

* Biplane

* Struts mounted at mid-point of wing reducing drag.

* Fuselage made of a wooden frame covered with fabric.

* Engine cowling covered with steel sheeting and cooling vents to reduce drag

* Max speed 205 km/h

* Powered by a 150 hp air-cooled aero-engine

* Service ceiling of 17 500 feet ASL

* Fully moveable flight control: ailerons, elevators and rudder

1918 Fokker D VII

The Fokker D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aeroplane.

Innovation included triangular fixed vertical fin in front of the rudder for

stability. Baron Richthofen praised it as a great aeroplane. It offered excellent

performance and was safe and easy to fly.

* Biplane

* Biplane with upper wing ailerons, and removal of most of the wing and

fuselage rigging (cables and bracing) to reduce drag

* Powered by BMW (185-240 hp) or Mercedes air-cooled aero-engine

* Max speed 186 km/h

* Service ceiling 19 600 feet ASL

* Rate of climb 800 feet per minute

1934 POTEZ 53

The Potez 53 was a racing aeroplane built in France to compete in

the 1933 Coupe Deutsch de la Muerthe. This low-wing aeroplane of

conventional design included an enclosed cockpit for the pilot. The first

Potez 53 built to compete in the 1933 Cup won first place covering the 2 000

kilometers closed circuit course at an average speed of 323 km/h (201 mph).

* Constant speed propeller (variable pitch)

* Powered by an air-cooled radial engine of 350 horsepower

* Max speed of 450 km/h (280 mph)

* Low wing cantilever construction

* Fully retractable landing gear (tailskid retracted into the fuselage)

* Streamlined fuselage (flushed rivets) to reduce drag

* For the first time wings equipped with full flaps

1955 SUD AVIATION CARAVELLE

The Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle was the first short/medium-range jet airlinerand the second jet-powered passenger aeroplane to fly in the world (1955).

The Caravelle would become the most successful European first-generation jetlinersever. Selling throughout Europe, the United States (20 to United Airlines) and to 80 airlines world-wide. The Caravelle pioneered rear-mounted engine and clean-wingdesign that has since been used on a wide variety of aeroplane including today’s Canadair Regional Jet.

* First jetliners with thrust reverser and wing spoilers* First jetliner to introduce the LEX (leading edge extension). Fillet added to the front of the wing to provide useable airflow at high AOA* First jetliner with swept wing design (delay onset of shock wave at high speed)* First jetliner to be equipped with an operational AUTOLAND (1958 – Air France)* Max speed 845 km/h (approximately 480 knots)* Service ceiling of 40 000 feet ASL* Crew of 3 and seating 80-140 pax depending on model

1969 Aérospatiale - BAC Concorde

The Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde aircraft was a turbojet-powered supersonic

passenger airliner. Produced by Anglo-French government collaboration. First

flown in 1969 Concorde entered service in 1976 and continued for 27 years (until

2003) Concorde flew regular transatlantic flights from London and Paris to New-

York and Washington. Flying these routes at record speeds in less than half the time

of other airliners (2 hours 50 min) . An aeroplane 30 years ahead of his time setting

numerous world record unbroken today.

* Thin-winged delta shape with four turbo-jet engine

* Max cruise speed of Mach 2.02 (2 140 km/h or 1 330 mph. twice speed of sound)

* Max cruise altitude of 60 000 feet ASL

* First civil airliner to have an analogue fly-by-wire flight control system.

* Droop nose section for visibility on approach and landing

* Variable inlet ramps controlled by digital computers

* Thrust-by-wire engines, predecessor of today’s FADEC-controlled engines