LESSON 1.3 — AIRPLANE FUNDAMENTALS

Check — Airplane Components

3 questions on what you just watched. Answer or skip — either way, continue when ready.

1. Which control surfaces are used to change roll and help the airplane turn?

Ailerons change roll, helping the airplane turn. The elevator adjusts pitch (nose up/down) and the rudder directs the nose left or right — flaps mainly increase lift (and drag).

2. What is the role of the horizontal and vertical stabilisers at the tail?

The horizontal stabiliser (with the elevator) maintains pitch stability, and the vertical stabiliser (with the rudder) maintains directional stability — together keeping the aircraft stable in flight.

3. What is the purpose of winglets at the wingtips?

Winglets reduce the vortices that form at the wingtips, which reduces drag and improves fuel efficiency — a small feature with a significant effect on performance.

THINK & DISCUSS

Winglets went from novelty to standard in thirty years. Which small feature is underused on today's aircraft?

No single right answer — form your own view and defend it.

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