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How Fairings Benefit Aircraft

Posted on April 6, 2021 Robert Jones Aircraft parts

While the wings and engine of an aircraft are paramount for its ability to fly, there are also many other aircraft parts and structures that assist in increasing aerodynamic efficiency and flight characteristics. One force that acts against the velocity of an aircraft is drag, and it is a type of friction that acts as an opposing force to an object moving through a fluid. For aircraft, drag can affect the aerodynamics of surfaces, often affecting lift and airspeed. With an aircraft structure known as a fairing, however, a smoother outline can be achieved in order to reduce form and interference drag.

An aircraft fairing may come in a variety of forms, often depending upon the location that it is attached to on the aircraft structure. Wheels are an area of the aircraft where drag can easily occur, and wheel fairing components may close the wheel and landing gear leg in order to mitigate turbulence. Beyond reducing drag for increased speed, such wheel fairing components can also protect the tailwheel assembly or landing gear structures from contaminants and rocks that may damage various aviation parts. Belly fairings are another common implementation on aircraft, and they are placed on the bottom of the fuselage or between wings in order to protect various aerospace parts such as the fuel tanks, fuel vent, or cargo storage. Beyond such examples, a number of other common types are placed across the aircraft structure for various needs.

In order to validate the effects that an aircraft fairing may have for the airspeed of the vehicle, many tests have been conducted over the years. For the standard general aviation aircraft, various tests have shown a noticeable increase of true airspeed when utilizing seal tape and various aircraft fairings. Wheel fairings and intersection fairings can often show the highest differences for airspeed, through fairings for the leading edge of wings, lower cowl, or around the fuselage will all benefit flight characteristics. For some slower speed aircraft, seal tape can also be beneficial, though may not act as a practical long-term solution in lieu of aircraft fairings.

When attaching various fairings to an aircraft, it is important that all mass is precisely balanced to ensure that control systems perform optimally. If there are any imbalances, flutter may occur. To avoid accidentally creating imbalances in flight surfaces, it is recommended that aircraft fairings are implemented either during the construction phase or prior to the painting of such aerospace parts.

While the various aircraft fairing types each can have a beneficial effect on flight aerodynamics, such aircraft parts should not be confused with flaps or aircraft airfoil structures. With the aircraft airfoil or a flap, lift can be increased or manipulated in order to better control an aircraft. With aircraft fairings, on the other hand, the intention is to reduce drag and improve appearances, rather than to directly assist in the production of lift or the control of the aircraft.

At ASAP 360 Unlimited, we are a premier supplier of aircraft parts and components, and we are your sourcing solution for top quality aircraft fairings, seal tape components, flap hinges, leading edge structures, lower cowl products, and much more. To ensure that customers only receive the highest quality aviation parts, we test and inspect every part prior to shipment and choose to only source items from leading manufacturers that we trust. Due to our steadfast adherence to such practices, we proudly operate with AS9120B, ISO 9001:2015, and FAA AC 00-56B certification and accreditation. Begin the part procurement process today with a competitive quote when you fill out and submit an Instant RFQ form as provided on our website.

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