Comments on: Semi Monocoque, Mono-what?

By: Sylvia

Sylvia — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:06:47 +0000

*nudge*

Where did you go?

By: Patrick Flannigan

Patrick Flannigan — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:21:02 +0000

Well Julien, with that question you gave me a great idea for a future article!

I’ll have to do some research, and maybe look at some kit-planes under construction, but I do have some understanding on the subject.

Most modern airplanes feature cantilevered wings, which is a fancy way of saying that they dont’ require external bracing such as struts or wires. In this case, one or two central wing spars (much like steel girders on a building) run from the fuselage out to the wingtips. These spars act as a foundation for the basic airfoil supports to be attached.

The spar usually goes through the fuselage and either continues to span the other wing, or bolts onto the other wing’s spar.

Hope this helps!

By: Patrick Flannigan

Patrick Flannigan — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:12:32 +0000

Thanks Jeffrey. It does give you a different perspective when you realize the history and insights that went into building your airplane. It’s also amazing to see how much (and how little) things have changed from the barnstormer days to the modern airliners we fly now.

Many thanks to the Wrights, Curtiss, Junkers, and so many others!

By: Jeffrey

Jeffrey — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:23:45 +0000

Patrick,

Terrific! I really enjoyed your post. How can you not when you love airplanes? It is great when you can learn these little things that give more meaning to flying and you can benefit from those that have paved the way before us!

Regards,

Jeffrey
FlyCRJ.com

By: Julien

Julien — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:00:00 +0000

Thanks Patrick, I had always wondered about what semi monocoque actually meant but never looked it up, now I no longer have to! Another structural question I have is the following: how are wings attached to the airframe in typical GA airplanes? Is it just a matter of two holes, one on each longeron, lining up and then some big metal ping going through them? Or is there more to it? Thanks for the posts!