It gives it the aerodynamic shape, it carries a share of the loads, it helps to carry torsional loads, it acts as fuel tanks and allows inspection and maintenance. Using the skin to carry part of the loads is called stressed skin. Almost all aircraft have their wing structure made entirely in metal, or a mixture of metal and composite. The skin may be fixed to the internal structure by rivets or bonding. The volume between the spars is often used for storing fuel. An alternative to attaching stringers to the skin for stiffness is a machined skin, in which the skin, stringers and spar flanges can be machined from a single piece of alloy, called a billet. Advantages are that less riveting is required, resulting in a smoother surface, lighter and stronger structures are possible, construction faults are less likely, less maintenance is required and easy inspection is possible. However, the costs are relatively high, and replacing parts is difficult. In commercial aircrafts usually around 25% of the aircraft’s maximum operating weight is for fuel storage. Usually most or all of the fuel is stored in the wing, which is divided into several tanks, each one usually having its own pumps. This allows fuel to be moved between tanks in flight, which changes the trim of the aircraft to minimize drag. Flaps are fitted at the trailing edges. Light aircraft usually have simple flaps or none at all. Larger aircraft have the more
It gives it the aerodynamic shape, it carries a share of the loads, it helps to carry torsional loads, it acts as fuel tanks and allows inspection and maintenance. Using the skin to carry part of the loads is called stressed skin. Almost all aircraft have their wing structure made entirely in metal, or a mixture of metal and composite. The skin may be fixed to the internal structure by rivets or bonding. The volume between the spars is often used for storing fuel. An alternative to attaching stringers to the skin for stiffness is a machined skin, in which the skin, stringers and spar flanges can be machined from a single piece of alloy, called a billet. Advantages are that less riveting is required, resulting in a smoother surface, lighter and stronger structures are possible, construction faults are less likely, less maintenance is required and easy inspection is possible. However, the costs are relatively high, and replacing parts is difficult. In commercial aircrafts usually around 25% of the aircraft’s maximum operating weight is for fuel storage. Usually most or all of the fuel is stored in the wing, which is divided into several tanks, each one usually having its own pumps. This allows fuel to be moved between tanks in flight, which changes the trim of the aircraft to minimize drag. Flaps are fitted at the trailing edges. Light aircraft usually have simple flaps or none at all. Larger aircraft have the more