Vocabulary

1. Match the words with their meaning.

An aircraft	derives from the French aéroplane, which comes from the Greek ἀήρ (aēr), “air” and either Latin planus, “level”, or Greek πλάνος (planos), “wandering”.
An airplane	just to the wing, as it is a plane moving through the air.
The word airplane	is used for powered fixed-wing aircraft.
Aéroplane originally referred	is a powered, fixed-wing aircraft that is propelled forward by thrust from a jet engine or propeller.
In the United States and Canada, the term “airplane”	is a vessel designed to move through the air.
An airplane or aeroplane (informally plane)	is a popular example of this type of vessel but there are many others.
The term airplane, on the other hand,	is more specific and refers only to a powered vehicle that relies on fixed wings to generate lift.

2. Make up sentences of your own using the following items:

Aeroplane, airplane, aircraft, French , Greek ,Latin  helicopters, airships , hot air balloons, vessel, singular and the plural form, fixed-wing, refers only to a powered vehicle, pilot , remotely , computer-controlled.

3. Scan the text and find the answers to the following items:

a. Do you know the etymology of airplane?

b. Is there any difference of aeroplane and airplane? c. Is there any difference of airplane and aircraft? d. Is the word ‘aircraft’ used in plural or in singular?

4. Find related words to an airplane.

Airplane

MODULE II.2. MAIN PARTS OF AN AIRCRAFT 1

SPEAKING

Work in pairs and interview your partner.

Brainstorming

1.What parts of aircraft do you know?

2. Do you know where are the ailerons are located?

3.What is cockpit?

4. What is the fuselage?

5. What is the function of the engine?

READING

1. Read the text and try to remember functions of parts of an aircraft. Work with a partner guess the meaning of underlined words and phrases. Discuss them with your teacher or consult a dictionary.

Many external airplane components are constructed of metal alloys, although composites made of materials such as carbon fiber and a variety of fiberglass resins are becoming more popular as technology improves.

Aileron.The ailerons are located at the rear of the wing, typically one on each side. They work opposite to each other. When one is raised, the other is lowered. Their job is to increase the lift on one wing while reducing the lift on the other. By doing this, they roll the aircraft sideways, causing the aircraft to turn. This is the primary method of steering a fixed-wing aircraft.

Antenna.There are numerous radio antennas located around an aircraft, their size and position corresponding to the type of work each antenna must perform and the frequencies being transmitted or received. The GPS antenna, for example, is always mounted to the top of an airplane. This is because the GPS satellites are in Space, and therefore always above the aircraft. Longer antennas are used for radio communication and navigation (VHF frequencies). Shorter antennas are reserved for higher frequency data such as the GPS signals and the transponder, which provides air traffic control with information about the aircraft’s position and altitude.

Cockpit.The cockpit, sometimes referred to as the Flight Deck, is where the pilots sit. It contains the flight controls, which move the airplane, as well as all the buttons and switches used to operate the various systems.

Elevator. As the name implies, the elevator helps “elevate” the aircraft. It is located on the tail and directs the nose of the aircraft either upwards or downwards (pitch) in order to make the airplane climb and descend.

Empennage. This name stems from the French word “empenner,” meaning “to feather an arrow”. The empennage is the name given to the entire tail section of the aircraft, including both the horizontal and vertical stabilizers, the rudder and the elevator. As a combined unit, it works identically to the feather on the arrow, helping guide the aircraft to its destination.

E ngine.An airplane has at least one, or as many as eight engines, which provide the thrust needed to fly. There are many different makes and models on aircraft today but all perform the same basic function of taking the air that’s in front of the aircraft, accelerating it and pushing it out behind the aircraft. Jet powered aircraft perform this function by compressing the air using turbines, while propeller-powered aircraft use a propeller mounted to the engine. In general, the propeller works like a big screw, pulling the aircraft forward while pushing the air behind it.

Flap. Flaps are a “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, but when extended fully they also create more drag. This means an aircraft can descend (or lose altitude) faster, without gaining airspeed in the process.

Fuselage. The fuselage, from the French word “fuselé” meaning “spindle shaped”, is the portion of the airplane used to literally join, or fuse, the other parts together. It is commonly thought of as the body of the aircraft and holds the passengers and cargo safely inside.