Parts of an Airplane

Parts of an Airplane

The streamlined exterior of modern airplanes hides a complex balance of form and function. The basic components of an airplane include the fuselage, wings, tail assembly, and landing gear. The fuselage houses the pilot, passengers, and cargo. The shape of the wings provides the lift that enables the plane to fly. Movable ailerons on the wings help control lateral motions. The tail assembly includes movable parts that help control vertical motions and fixed parts that increase stability during flight. The landing gear enables the plane to move along runways during take-offs and landings. Light, single-engine planes such as this one are popular with private pilots.