![]() Still, the components must also be integrated to create a fully functioning flight vehicle. The overarching principle for all types of flight vehicle design is to use lightweight materials and minimal structure while ensuring adequate performance in terms of payload and fuel-carrying capability, robustness, airframe durability, ease of maintenance and repair, etc.Īirplanes and spacecraft are designed and built from components comprising a series of assemblies and sub-assemblies, each usually having different functions. Have a general appreciation for different types of spacecraft, including multi-stage rockets and satellites.īoth aircraft and spacecraft must be designed for structural strength and lightness and will be comprised chiefly of shell-like monocoque or semi-monocoque structures.Recognize the different types of wings, tails, undercarriage, and other components that can be used for airplane designs.Appreciate the functionality of flight controls on an airplane.Know the four fundamental forces involved in flight: lift, weight, thrust, and drag.Understand the essential parts of an airplane and their functions.Furthermore, compared to aircraft, spacecraft have unique engineering challenges, such as dealing with the harsh environment of space and navigating in zero gravity, requiring specialized skills and knowledge. Therefore, the name “spacecraft” can vary greatly depending on its mission, from simple probes to highly complex vehicles carrying astronauts. Spacecraft, however, are not classified in the manner done for aircraft, i.e., there are no designated categories of spacecraft. Such a design should also be held to a higher airworthiness standard because it carries many passengers. Lighter-than-air, e.g., a hot air balloon.įor example, it is logical that it will take more engineering effort to design the airframe and the many different systems used on a commercial airliner than for a glider.Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a division of the Department of Transportation (DoT), formally classifies aircraft according to categories, the primary categories being: To this end, aircraft types are placed into different categories and classes that relate to the relative complexity of their engineering design as well as their flight operations, e.g., the skill levels needed in their piloting and maintenance. Larger aircraft tend to need more systems, and their airframe designs are commensurately more complex. However, most aircraft have many standard features, i.e., a fuselage, wings, tail surfaces, powerplant, undercarriage, etc. 4 Anatomy of Aircraft & Spacecraft IntroductionĮven to the layperson, it is evident that many different aircraft types will comprise the aviation spectrum. ![]()
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