Airplanes are powered [aircraft](https://steemit.com/aviation/@olivercuico/what-is-an-aircraft). They are the most common type of flying vehicle.

<center>https://steemitimages.com/DQmTiyWa52UUzwmRzrynMnXU8puA3mFk8NHdNoCCU7oNRAM/13907191_1281426765215688_1545183867540259626_n.jpg</center>

Airplanes vary in size and purpose, yet they all have the same main parts. Every type of airplane has a main body, or *fuselage*, in which to carry the crew, controls, passengers and cargo; *wings* to lift it into the air; a *tail assembly* to control the path of flight; *landing gear* to give it mobility on the ground; and one or more *engines* for [power to fly.](https://steemit.com/science/@olivercuico/aerodynamics-how-do-airplanes-fly)

<center>https://steemitimages.com/DQmaQ33xfHdkPfXzEdQ1cgUso7Kk9fp69eWNuo7wpoBSmBM/Oliver%20Cuico%20Diagram%20airplane.jpg</center>

The airplane fuselage is designed for the particular type of cargo it will carry. The airliner has a long, cylindrical fuselage, and, because it is designed to carry passengers, has many windows. Cargo airplanes have very large bodies and often have loading doors in the rear for handling bulky loads. Private airplanes, like the automobile, have fuselages designed to carry four or five people, including the pilot. High performance military airplanes, such as fighters and bombers, have very streamlined fuselages designed to carry weapons and electronic equipment.

The airplane's wings are designed to [generate *lift*.](https://steemit.com/science/@olivercuico/aerodynamics-how-do-airplanes-fly) Depending upon the placement of the wings, an airplane is known a high, low, or mid-wing type. Cargo and passenger airplanes have long, narrow wings, capable of lifting heavy loads, while jetliners and military airplanes usually have the swept back wings necessary for high speed flight. Some fighters and experimental airplanes have very short, straight, razor-sharp wings. Triangular or "delta" wings offer the streamlining necessary for high speeds, and yet permit good low-speed performance.

<center>http://www.cfinotebook.net/graphics/aerodynamics-and-performance/Wing-Planform.jpg
[source](http://www.cfinotebook.net/notebook/aerodynamics-and-performance/aircraft-components-and-structure)</center>

The *tail section* provides both the in-flight *control* of the airplane, and *stabilizes* it like the feathers of an arrow. Control s accomplished by movable parts known as the *rudder* and the *elevators*. The rudder is hinged to the fixed vertical fin. When it is moved to the left or right by the pilot, it causes the nose of the airplane to turn. The horizontal stabilizers are fixed with hinged elevators attached. Their movement pitches the nose of the airplane up or down. Hinged controls in the wings called *ailerons* cause the airplane to bank or tilt to the side. Some airplanes have two or three vertical fins to increase stability. The horizontal stabilizer may be mounted on the fuselage or on the vertical fin.

##### <center>Here is the *tail section* of an airplane pointing out the flight control surfaces. The *rudder and elevator* are the movable parts.</center>
<center>https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/Tail_of_a_conventional_aircraft.svg/500px-Tail_of_a_conventional_aircraft.svg.png
[source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tail_of_a_conventional_aircraft.svg)</center>

##### <center>Here's a more detailed movable airplane surfaces which can be controlled by a pilot.</center>
<center>https://image.slidesharecdn.com/basicaerodynamics-110324082120-phpapp02/95/basic-aerodynamics-43-728.jpg?cb=1300955896
[source](https://www.slideshare.net/nyinyikyaw/basic-aerodynamics)</center>

Airplanes are equipped with landing gear to give them mobility on the ground. This usually consists of wheels attached to the fuselage (or wings) by struts. Airplanes may have the so-called "conventional" landing gear, with two wheels at the middle of the fuselage, and one under the nose. *Tandem* type landing gear is used on heavy bombers. The wheels are mounted one behind the other under the fuselage with small wheels extended from the wings to keep the airplane from tipping. *Seaplanes* use boatlike floats, or have watertight hulls for landing on the water. For winter flying, skis may replace the landing wheels.

<center>http://slideplayer.com/slide/6863912/23/images/5/Three+common+types+of+landing+gear.jpg
[source](http://slideplayer.com/slide/6863912/)</center>

There are two basic types of airplane engines. The *piston engine* was used by the Wright brothers, and is still in use today. Piston engines are similar to automobile *engines*, and are connected to propellers to generate *thrust*. The [*turbojet* engine](https://steemit.com/science/@olivercuico/why-does-other-airplanes-be-called-jetplanes-understanding-jet-propulsion-and-its-technological-innovations) was developed for aircraft use during the World War II. The turbojet is one of great significance because of its light weight, simple operation, and tremendous power. *Turboprop* engines use propellers as well as the jet principle to drive the airplane forward. They are actually turbojet engines the power of which is harnessed to a propeller. The *Rocket engine* is a type of jet engine which carries its own oxygen supply. It is capable of operating at tremendous speeds and altitudes , and is being used to carry man into space in such airplanes as the X-15. Spacecraft launch vehicles such as the Saturn V also use rocket engines.

##### <center>This is how a piston engine is used for an airplane's propeller.</center>
<center>https://i.stack.imgur.com/gvqyX.jpg
[source](https://aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/16047/what-is-the-difference-between-a-propeller-and-a-turbo-propeller)</center>

##### <center>Piston engines are commonly used for automobiles like motorcycles.</center>
<center>https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/2007-05-20_3_DKW_RT_250_in_Mendig_%28kl%29.JPG
[source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-cylinder_engine)</center>

##### <center>This is a sample of a turbojet engine illustration model made by General Electric</center>
<center>https://airandspace.si.edu/sites/default/files/images/collection-objects/record-images/NASM-A19800072000_PS01.jpg
[source](https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/general-electric-j85-ge-17a-turbojet-engine-cutaway)</center>
Airplanes are basically simple to fly. Regardless of size or shape, the basic techniques are used. The control stick (or wheel), the rudder pedals, and the throttle are the three main controls. The *control stick* and *rudder pedal* movements are coordinated to turn the airplane by moving both in the direction of the desired turn. The airplane is prevented from gaining or losing altitude in its maneuvers by using forward or back pressure on the control stick, thus operating the elevators.

##### <center>These are the controllers of a flight simulator game. From left to right; Rudder pedals (controls the yawing or moving the airplane left or right), an engine throttle controller (which controls engine power that produces forward thrust and lift), and a joystick (which controls the ailerons and the elevator for the rolling and pitching movement of the airplane)</center>
<center>![81ENJBn-l4L._SL1500_.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmNkGkiVu1TbHAvwwPgcUYTsKEDSdbdVExGDAQpDAcMB9T/81ENJBn-l4L._SL1500_.jpg)
[source](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Thrustmaster-T-16000M-Flight-Joystick-Throttle/dp/B01HZ2APKU)</center>

These three basic flight controllers are actually present in a real airplane's cockpit. These are the major controllers prior to the three principal movements or axes of an airplane which are the rolling (longitudinal axis), pitching (lateral axis), and yawing (vertical axis). To simply illustrate these three major axes of an airplane, refer to the diagrams below:

##### <center>Rolling (ailerons)</center>
<center>https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/Animation/airpar/Images/aroll.gif
[source](https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/roll.html)</center>

##### <center>Pitching (elevators)</center>
<center>https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/Aileron_pitch.gif
[source](https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkas:Aileron_pitch.gif)</center>

##### <center>Yawing (rudder)</center>
<center>https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/Animation/airpar/Images/ayaw.gif
[source](https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/yaw.html)</center>

The airplane climbs or glides as the engine speed is changed by the *throttle.* Increasing the engine speed causes the airplane to speed up. Thus the wings generate more lift, and the airplane climbs. By reducing power, forward speed and lift are also reduced, and the airplane glides.

<center>*This photo was taken inside the Boeing 777's cockpit. Boeing usually do not have a joystick for flight controls as opposed to Airbus and the majority of computer simulator's joystick and this flight control that i was holding is called a "yoke". I believe that the Boeing's use the yoke was also for the pilot's pride because this is the traditional design of an aircraft's flight control. They say"Real pilots uses a yoke". The *triple-seven* is the world's largest twinjet and is seating 314 to 396 passengers.* </center>
<center>https://steemitimages.com/DQmTNYLFaQUVGxeyZpNwU8queBaiimt21PiCLhJ71LEqeU3/74131_176852578993457_7571956_n.jpg</center>

The *cockpit* is equipped with instruments which give the pilot information on position and course, rate of climb, angle of bank, altitude, and the operation of his engine. In addition to the other controls, there are switches to operate the other systems of the airplane. Almost all airplanes today have hydraulic systems to operate landing gear, brakes and other devices; electrical systems for lighting and radios; heaters and de-icing equipment and radio navigation devices.

##### Related articles:
[Aeronautics and Advances of the Science of Flight](https://steemit.com/aviation/@olivercuico/aeronautics-and-advances-to-the-science-of-flight)
[How Do Airplanes Fly?](https://steemit.com/science/@olivercuico/aerodynamics-how-do-airplanes-fly)
[How to Call an Airplane to be a Jet Plane? Understanding Jet Propulsion and Its Technological Innovations](https://steemit.com/science/@olivercuico/why-does-other-airplanes-be-called-jetplanes-understanding-jet-propulsion-and-its-technological-innovations)
[Airships: A Short Brief of history and Innovations](https://steemit.com/science/@olivercuico/airships-a-short-brief-of-history-and-innovations)
[What is an Aircraft?](https://steemit.com/aviation/@olivercuico/what-is-an-aircraft)


<center>https://steemitimages.com/0x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmSVLVoiTvxASfumV3XXJWdfF86UF1mskKtvBPqHgCnaDL/8.gif</center>

## <center>About the author</center>

<div class="pull-left"><img src="https://steemitimages.com/DQmbwAWgnxXJqhZWYHLCRkgkbBR61kAg6xe9uAUZkBbivNH/Oliver%20Cuico.jpg"/></div>Oliver Cuico is a Steemian who formerly worked out of Lufthansa Technik Philippines.  He loves basketball, cycling, cooking, computer gaming, songwriting and playing musical instruments. When he's not doing all those, he'll go out to bond with his friends or loved ones, to explore and socialize, or he's going to read, then try new things.