An airplane wing has an extensive internal support structure of one or more spars, often a number of ribs, and maybe a few stringers. Holding the wing to the fuselage may be the spar and just a few bolts, or a more substantial support brace called a wing strut or lift strut.
As you’d expect, lift struts hold the wings up when the airplane is sitting on the ground. But they also hold them down when the air pulls the airplane aloft. Although they add drag, having them allows for a less substantial interior structure, which may save weight. The design is as old as the Wright brothers, who used a series of external braces between the two wings of the Wright Flyer.
Typically only seen on high-wing aircraft, they also can be found on older low-wing airplanes. And even some bigger airplanes are getting in on the act. Boeing is studying whether a strutted airliner would allow for a long, thin wing that reduces drag.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS
The annual meeting of the members of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association will be held at 12 noon on Friday, September 11, 2015, at the headquarters of AOPA, 421 Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland, 21701, located on the Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK), for the purpose of receiving reports and transacting such other business as may properly come before the meeting, specifically including the election of trustees.
If you are not able to attend, but would like to appoint your voting proxy, please go online or call 800-872-2672.
—Kenneth M. Mead, Secretary
Related Articles
