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                                                      FIXED-WINGS

Airplanes or aero planes are technically called fixed-wing aircraft.

The forerunner of the fixed-wing aircraft is the kite. Whereas a fixed-wing aircraft relies on its forward speed to create airflow over the wings, a kite is tethered to the ground and relies on the wind blowing over its wings to provide lift. Kites were the first kind of aircraft to fly, and were invented in China around 500 BC. Much aerodynamic research was done with kites before test aircraft, wind tunnels and computer modeling programs became available.

The first heavier-than-air craft capable of controlled free flight were gliders. A glider designed byCayley carried out the first true manned, controlled flight in 1853.

Besides the method of propulsion, fixed-wing aircraft are generally characterized by their wing configuration. The most important wing characteristics are:

§                     Number of wings – Monoplane, biplane, etc.

§                     Wing support – Braced or cantilever, rigid or flexible.

§                     Wing platform – including aspect ratio, angle of sweep and any variations along the span (including the important class of delta wings).

§                     Location of the horizontal stabilizer, if any.

§                     Dihedral angle – positive, zero or negative (anhedral).

A variable geometry aircraft can change its wing configuration during flight.

A flying wing has no fuselage, though it may have small blisters or pods. The opposite of this is a lifting which has no wings, though it may have small stabilizing and control surfaces.

Most fixed-wing aircraft feature a tail unit or empennage incorporating vertical, and often horizontal, stabilizing surfaces.