Skin: The outer surface of the wing. Originally made of fabric. Modern aircraft use aluminum or composite materials due to their lightweight and rust-resistant properties.
Ribs & Stringers: These make up the inner skeleton of the wing, providing rigidity, strength and flexibility. While strength is necessary, it is also important that the wing can flex slightly while it flies. This flexibility allows it to absorb the stress caused by turbulence and hard landings.
Spar: The main center beam of the wing, designed to carry the structural loads and transfer them by attachment to the fuselage, or body, of the aircraft
Fuel Tank: Commonly located in the wing, fuel can either be housed in its own tank or allowed to fill the cavities between the ribs. The fuel also adds rigidity to the wing.
Flaps: High lift / high drag device. Not only do they improve the lifting ability of the wing at slower speeds by changing the camber, or curvature of the wing, they also create more drag, meaning an aircraft can descend, or lose altitude faster, without gaining airspeed in the process.
Root: The wing root is the portion of the wing that attaches to the fuselage, or body of the aircraft.
Wing Tip: The wing tip is furthest from the fuselage and is typically where the navigation lights are mounted (a red light on the left, a green light on the right)
Slats: High lift device found on swept or delta wing aircraft. Slats are similar to the flaps except they are mounted on the leading edge of the wing. They also assist in changing the camber to improve lifting ability at slower speeds.
Aspect Ratio: The ratio of the wing’s length to its chord line. A wing with a high aspect ratio will perform well at slow speeds and produce large quantities of lift, but at the expense of maneuverability and
airspeed. A wing with a low aspect ratio on the other hand will have a sleek appearance and allow an aircraft to fly faster, or be more maneuverable.
Camber: The name given to the curvature of the upper or lower surfaces of the wing. A higher camber, or more curved surface, results in an aircraft that can fly at slower speeds while still generating sufficient lift for flight.
Chord Line: The theoretical line running from the leading edge of the wing to the trailing edge.
Leading Edge: The front edge of an aircraft’s wing.
Trailing Edge: The rear edge of an aircraft’s wing.