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midwing

aircraft

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  • In wing

    Midwings, positioned in the middle of the fuselage, leave the airplane belly free of spars, with room for bombs or cargo. Placed below the fuselage, low wings reduce the height of the undercarriage and simplify engine maintenance.

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aileron

aircraft part
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aileron, movable part of an airplane wing that is controlled by the pilot and permits them to roll the aircraft around its longitudinal axis. Ailerons are thus used primarily to bank the aircraft for turning. Ailerons have appeared in different forms throughout the years but are usually part of the wing’s trailing edge, near the tip. Their efficiency in lateral control made the Wright brothers’ system of wing warping obsolete.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Tara Ramanathan.
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