Chapter 2. Basic Airplane Anatomy Delmar, Cengage Learning

Transcription

1 Chapter 2 Basic Airplane Anatomy

2 Objectives Identify components of basic aircraft anatomy Understand aircraft size and weight categories List different types and examples of General aviation aircraft Military aircraft Civil aircraft Specialized aircraft Identify similarities and differences among aircraft

3 Introduction Emergency responders need to understand aircraft production and components Hidden dangers lie under the aircraft skin" Understanding the airplane makes aircraft emergency operation safer and more effective

4 Basic Airplane Anatomy Preplan for emergency incidents Learning about the aircraft servicing in your area All aircraft have common general characteristics Fuselage: main body of the airplane Transports people and cargo Can accommodate fuel tanks Cabin: passenger compartment Cockpit/flight deck: where the pilot sits

5 Basic Airplane Anatomy (con t.) All aircraft have common general characteristics (con t.) Canopy: allows the pilot/crew to see out Airframe: provides aircraft with structural strength and shape Understanding the common location of airframe components is important, such as: Longerons/Stringers run from the front to the rear of the aircraft Bulkhead

6 Basic Airplane Anatomy (con t.) All aircraft have common general characteristics (con t.) Steps: provide access to the cockpit or cabin All aircraft contain electrical systems, including: Batteries, generators and magnetos Lighting systems Auxiliary/Emergency power units Most aircraft have hydraulic systems Perform retraction of landing gear and aircraft movement (turn, bank, climb, descend)

7 Figure 2-4 Hydraulic lines and reservoirs inside a large passenger jetliner.

8 Basic Airplane Anatomy (con t.) All aircraft have common general characteristics (con t.) Control panel: houses gauges and controls Located in the cockpit Engine: powers the aircraft Can be designed as piston, jet turbine or turboprop Separated by a firewall Aircraft: designed with entry/exit doors Many aircraft are equipped with escape slides for a quick escape exit Many can be used as rafts for water landing survival

9 Basic Airplane Anatomy (con t.) All aircraft have common general characteristics (con t.) Empennage: complete tail assembly Contains horizontal and vertical stabilizers Elevator controls the pitch Rudder controls the side to side turning Wing root: portion of the aircraft which joins the wing to the fuselage Aileron: enables a plane to bank left or right Flaps are extended from the rear edge of the wing at slower speeds to enable stable low speed flight. Some aircraft have slats that extend from the leading wing edge enhancing control and stability at slower speeds

10 Basic Airplane Anatomy (con t.) All aircraft have common general characteristics (con t.) Wing struts: connected to the bottom wing and to the fuselage Engines: Multi engine: Often mounted on the wings, and or tail, or rear fuselage; most fighter type aircraft jet engines are inside the fuselage. Single engine: Usually mounted on the front of the fuselage Auxiliary power units (APU) supply electrical power, air conditioning, and backup power during flight Some aircraft use an emergency power unit (EPU) in event of engine failure Flight data recorder records in-flight information

11 Figure 2-17 A diagram illustrating APU locations on a Boeing 717 and 757. Note the locations of fuel lines; if you have to cut into an aircraft, it is important to know where the fuel lines are.

12 Aircraft Size and Weight Aircraft are categorized by payload size, fuselage width and number of passenger seats Aircraft weight classes include: Small aircraft has 41,000 pounds or less Heavy aircraft, or jumbo jets, can accommodate takeoff weights of 255,000 pounds or more Large aircraft is capable of hauling more than 41,000 pounds at takeoff up to 255,000 pounds Passenger aircraft also transport freight and baggage

13 Types of Aircraft General aviation (GA) aircraft includes a variety of airplanes used for sport, leisure, or business Small-frame aircraft includes: Very light jets (VLJs) use low-noise turbofan jet engines Cruising speeds are mph and maximum altitude is nearly 40,000 feet Can land on short runways, increasing access to air-taxi services

14 Types of Aircraft (con t.) Small-frame aircraft includes (con t.): Commuter aircraft can carry up to 19 passengers Nicknamed puddle-jumpers Use a single engine Connect small cities with the major commercial airlines hubs in big cities Medium-frame civil aircraft seats less than 100 passengers Designated for shorter regional flight routes STOL is a term describing aircraft capable of short take off and landings

15 Types of Aircraft (con t.) Large-frame aircraft includes: Narrow body aircraft Used for medium distances Have only one aisle Wide body aircraft Fall into the heavy aircraft classification Contain two aisles in the main passenger cabin

16 Types of Aircraft (con t.) Military aircraft configurations are diverse and are used for a variety of purposes Combat aircraft have bomb bays, which release weapons while in flight Ammunition, bombs, explosives, or rockets carried on-board are referred to as ordnance Responders to military aircraft incidents face complex situations with cargo, weapons, and a varying number of passengers on board Can be both small or large-frame

17 Types of Aircraft (con t.) An assortment of specialized aircraft Agricultural aircraft account for 25% of crop protection activities in the US Dispense various farm-related products such as fertilizers, pesticides, and plant seeds Agricultural pilots are well-trained professionals May be converted general aviation aircraft Helicopters may also be used

18 Types of Aircraft (con t.) An assortment of specialized aircraft (con t.) Aerial firefighting aircraft: commonly referred to as tankers Pilots are skilled, often flying in adverse conditions Aircraft also has bomb bays filled with fire-fighting agents, like water or chemical slurry Today s firefighting agents are less toxic, but still pose dangers Jet aircraft and helicopters may also be used

19 Figure 2-32 A Sky Crane firefighting helicopter

20 The Similarities and Differences Among Aircraft All fixed-wing aircraft have the same basic components: Fuselage, wings, empennage, wheels, and wheel (landing gear) struts Fuel and electrical systems May have a hydraulic system

21 The Similarities and Differences Among Aircraft (con t.) Important differences among aircraft Ballistic recovery systems (BRS) Available in some lighter aircrafts Life-saving device that acts as a parachute for an airplane in trouble Contains explosive charges and hatch covers BRS in a bent airframe aircraft is unstable and dangerous Cutting the BRS activation cord must be done with a Felco battery-cable cutter. Cable cutter can be obtained from various sources, including Sanlo Manufacturing Co: Greenlee Company, Div. of Textron, manufactures similar products made specifically for cutting cables, it can be viewed online at:

22 The Similarities and Differences Among Aircraft (con t.) Other differences in specialized aircraft: May carry imaging or radar systems Law enforcement airplanes may carry small weapons and ammunition Can contain toxic chemicals, such as pesticides and disease control for insects Military aircraft contain weapons and other dangers; may be converted civilian aircraft

23 Summary All fixed-wing aircraft have a fuselage, wings, fuel, and means of propulsion (engines) All aircraft have electrical systems, airframes, and batteries Most aircraft (except the very small) have hydraulic systems, which pose additional threats to responders

24 Summary (con t.) Dealing with a crashed combat aircraft, such as an A-10 or F-22, poses a wide range of hazards different from those of a crashed commuter or cargo aircraft Similar aircraft types may be designated to carry out vastly different missions, such as weather data gathering, firefighting, cargo, or passenger transport

25 Summary (con t.) Preplanning includes understanding not only what kinds of aircraft traverse your community s airspace, but also these airplanes basic anatomy and the functions of their various systems Check your progress by completing the exercises at the end of this chapter