AERO 3020 FINAL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Fuselage - Answers - The main or central structure of a heavier than air aircraft,
typically elongated and approximately streamlined, which carries the crew and px and to
which the wings are attached.
Spar - Answers - A principle span wise structural member of a wing or other airfoil.
Longeron - Answers - A principle span wise member of the framing of an airplane
fuselage, usually continuous across a number of points of support.
Strut - Answers - A supporting brace that bears compression loads, tension loads, or
both, as in a fuselage between the longerons or in a landing gear to transmit the
airplane loads.
Stringer - Answers - A longitudinal member installed between the fuselage frames and
formers to give support and strength to the skin.
Rib - Answers - A chord wise member used to give the wing its shape and to transmit
the load from the fabric or other covering to the spar.
Cantilever - Answers - A beam or member supported at or near on end only, without
external bracing.
Truss - Answers - An assemblage of members forming a rigid framework, which may
consist of bars, beams, rods, tubes, or wires.
Monocoque - Answers - A structure that contains no internal members.
Semi-Monocogue - Answers - A structure that consists of framework of vertical and
longitudinal members covered with a structural skin that carries a large percentage of
the imposed stress.
Douglas DC-3 - Answers - Possible, the most successful aircraft ever produced. The
first airliner that gave the airlines the ability to make a profit without relying on
government mail subsidies.
Lockheed Vega - Answers - One of the most famous early stressed skin aircraft
conducted by Lockheed Aircraft.
Dehavilland Comet - Answers - The first jet transport that was also pressurized for high
altitude flight. The original design experienced a couple of in-flight failures due to metal
fatigue.
, Bulkhead - Answers - A vertical structural member that carries major structural loads in
the fuselage and is orientated perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. This term also is
used to describe walls or partial walls that separate fuselage components from one
another.
Monoplane - Answers - An airplane with only one wing.
Biplane - Answers - An airplane with two wings mounted one above the other.
Former - Answers - A non-structural part attached to a truss structure to streamline the
shape. This piece is orientated perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
Soft Wood - Answers - The type of wood primarily used for aircraft structure. These
trees tend to have needled leaves such as spruce, fir, hemlock, and cedar.
Solid Wood - Answers - This form of wood is cut from a tree and dried only. No other
manufacturing takes place.
.34-.40 - Answers - One way to evaluate the health of a piece of wood is to measure its
specific gravity. What is the acceptable specific gravity range for aircraft structural
wood?
1 : 15 - Answers - In order for a piece of solid wood to be acceptable for use in aircraft
structure, it must have a straight grain. What is the maximum permissible grain
deviation for aircraft structural wood?
Hardwood - Answers - The type of wood used during aircraft construction, although not
as primary structure. These are broad-leaved trees such as birch, elm, hickory,
mahogany, and maple.
8 - 12% - Answers - It is important for wood to be kiln dried to achieve the desired
moisture content. What is the acceptable moisture content of aircraft softwood.
Laminated Wood - Answers - This form of wood consists of layers of solid wood glued
together with the grains running in the same direction.
Sitka Spruce - Answers - The reference softwood to which all other softwoods are
compared with regard to strength, gluing, and workability.
Birch or Mahogany - Answers - What is one of the most commonly used types of aircraft
plywood.
Rib Stitching or Pull Tight Rivets - Answers - Identify one method used to mechanically
attach fabric to the wing rib.
ANSWERS
Fuselage - Answers - The main or central structure of a heavier than air aircraft,
typically elongated and approximately streamlined, which carries the crew and px and to
which the wings are attached.
Spar - Answers - A principle span wise structural member of a wing or other airfoil.
Longeron - Answers - A principle span wise member of the framing of an airplane
fuselage, usually continuous across a number of points of support.
Strut - Answers - A supporting brace that bears compression loads, tension loads, or
both, as in a fuselage between the longerons or in a landing gear to transmit the
airplane loads.
Stringer - Answers - A longitudinal member installed between the fuselage frames and
formers to give support and strength to the skin.
Rib - Answers - A chord wise member used to give the wing its shape and to transmit
the load from the fabric or other covering to the spar.
Cantilever - Answers - A beam or member supported at or near on end only, without
external bracing.
Truss - Answers - An assemblage of members forming a rigid framework, which may
consist of bars, beams, rods, tubes, or wires.
Monocoque - Answers - A structure that contains no internal members.
Semi-Monocogue - Answers - A structure that consists of framework of vertical and
longitudinal members covered with a structural skin that carries a large percentage of
the imposed stress.
Douglas DC-3 - Answers - Possible, the most successful aircraft ever produced. The
first airliner that gave the airlines the ability to make a profit without relying on
government mail subsidies.
Lockheed Vega - Answers - One of the most famous early stressed skin aircraft
conducted by Lockheed Aircraft.
Dehavilland Comet - Answers - The first jet transport that was also pressurized for high
altitude flight. The original design experienced a couple of in-flight failures due to metal
fatigue.
, Bulkhead - Answers - A vertical structural member that carries major structural loads in
the fuselage and is orientated perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. This term also is
used to describe walls or partial walls that separate fuselage components from one
another.
Monoplane - Answers - An airplane with only one wing.
Biplane - Answers - An airplane with two wings mounted one above the other.
Former - Answers - A non-structural part attached to a truss structure to streamline the
shape. This piece is orientated perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
Soft Wood - Answers - The type of wood primarily used for aircraft structure. These
trees tend to have needled leaves such as spruce, fir, hemlock, and cedar.
Solid Wood - Answers - This form of wood is cut from a tree and dried only. No other
manufacturing takes place.
.34-.40 - Answers - One way to evaluate the health of a piece of wood is to measure its
specific gravity. What is the acceptable specific gravity range for aircraft structural
wood?
1 : 15 - Answers - In order for a piece of solid wood to be acceptable for use in aircraft
structure, it must have a straight grain. What is the maximum permissible grain
deviation for aircraft structural wood?
Hardwood - Answers - The type of wood used during aircraft construction, although not
as primary structure. These are broad-leaved trees such as birch, elm, hickory,
mahogany, and maple.
8 - 12% - Answers - It is important for wood to be kiln dried to achieve the desired
moisture content. What is the acceptable moisture content of aircraft softwood.
Laminated Wood - Answers - This form of wood consists of layers of solid wood glued
together with the grains running in the same direction.
Sitka Spruce - Answers - The reference softwood to which all other softwoods are
compared with regard to strength, gluing, and workability.
Birch or Mahogany - Answers - What is one of the most commonly used types of aircraft
plywood.
Rib Stitching or Pull Tight Rivets - Answers - Identify one method used to mechanically
attach fabric to the wing rib.
