Important Facts About Wingboxes

Wingboxes are an integral part of many fixed-wing aircraft, wherein they form the structural center of aircraft wings while simultaneously allowing for the use of other wing parts, such as flaps and wingtips. Serving as the primary load-carrying structure in aircraft, the wingbox runs along the wings and into the fuselage. To better understand these complex devices, this blog will cover five facts about wingboxes you may not be familiar with.

1. One of the Strongest Parts of Aircraft

The wingbox is one of the most robust parts of an aircraft and is utilized as the mounting surface for the wings. As such, wingboxes must have the capacity to withstand various loads and stressors which impact the wings. More than that, they contribute to the structural soundness of aircraft.

2. Made of Carbon Fiber

Early versions of wingboxes were made of stainless steel, but recently, these essential aerospace components are being composed of carbon fiber. In fact, most wingboxes are made of such a material because of its strength-to-weight ratio. Stainless steel, on the other hand, is strong, but outweighs its carbon fiber counterpart. With this in mind, carbon fiber wingboxes have risen in popularity.

3. Attaches to Landing Gear

You may be surprised to learn that landing gear is often attached to the wingbox. While the wings are generally attached to the sides of the wingbox, the landing gear may also be attached to the underside of the wingbox as well. Furthermore, the wingbox is typically installed in the rear section of the fuselage, making it a perfect mount point for landing gear.

4. Not Like Box Spars

Wingboxes are often conflated with box spars, but they are not the same. Instead, boxspars are box-shaped skeletal frames for wings. In contrast, wingboxes are box-shaped structural units where wings, landing gear, and other aircraft components can be attached. Beyond the fact that all aircraft are equipped with such devices, wingboxes and box spars are completely different.

5. Available as a Single Piece

Airbus, the European multinational aerospace corporation, has recently developed a single-piece wingbox made entirely of carbon fiber. Of the countless aerospace manufacturers in existence today, Airbus is leading the way in terms of wingbox design with their unveiling of this single-piece wingbox in 2017. With only a single piece, Airbus claims that this new carbon-fiber wingbox design costs 20% less to manufacture.

Conclusion

Aerospace Unlimited is a leading distributor of aircraft parts and components, including wingboxes, box spars, landing gear, GSE, and more. With over 2 billion new, used, obsolete, and hard-to-find options in our wide-ranging inventory, customers can fulfill their part requirements with ease. Backed by rapid lead times and unbeatable cost savings, the experts at Aerospace Unlimited ensure you get exactly what you require at low price points. As our supply chain network stretches across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, even our most remote customers have an opportunity to purchase from us. More than that, our network of distributors allows us to offer expedited shipping services on select in-stock products to domestic and international customers alike.

Owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, we leverage our market expertise and purchasing power to provide a seamless procurement process from beginning to end. Get started today by requesting a quote on any desired item which can be accessed through our Instant RFQ service. Within 15 minutes of submitting a completed form, a dedicated representative will reach out with a sourcing solution that keeps your needs in mind. We only ask that you include as many of your part requirements as possible in the form. For additional questions, call or email us today; we are available 24/7x365!

1. steven helmer
2. Posted on June 14, 2022
aviation