Cabane strut
Encyclopedia
The cabane struts of a biplane
aircraft support the upper wing
over the fuselage and work in conjunction with other wing components such as spars
and flying wires
to transmit flight loads.
Cabane struts also serve to maintain correct wing stagger
, angle of incidence
and decalage
particularly in early monoplane
designs. The initial setting or in-service adjustment of these angles, usually with the help of a clinometer
and plumb-bob
, is known as 'rigging'. Cabane struts found on early aircraft were often made of wood with later biplanes using aerofoil
-sectioned tubular steel.
Rarely, the lower wing of a biplane is placed entirely below the lower surface of the fuselage, using cabane-like support struts, and such an arrangement could conceivably be called a "ventral cabane strut" assembly. Examples of this arrangement from late World War I are the British Bristol F.2 Fighter
two-seat fighter biplane, and the German Pfalz D.XIV experimental fighter.
Cabane struts are also found on parasol wing
aircraft, which are monoplanes with their single wing level elevated above the fuselage on cabane struts, like the upper wing of a typical biplane.
Biplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...
aircraft support the upper wing
Wing
A wing is an appendage with a surface that produces lift for flight or propulsion through the atmosphere, or through another gaseous or liquid fluid...
over the fuselage and work in conjunction with other wing components such as spars
Spar (aviation)
In a fixed-wing aircraft, the spar is often the main structural member of the wing, running spanwise at right angles to the fuselage. The spar carries flight loads and the weight of the wings whilst on the ground...
and flying wires
Flying wires
The flying wires of an aircraft work in conjunction with other wing components such as spars and interplane struts to transmit flight loads. Most commonly used on biplane aircraft they are also used on monoplanes and triplanes.-Purpose:...
to transmit flight loads.
Cabane struts also serve to maintain correct wing stagger
Stagger (aviation)
In aviation stagger refers to the horizontal positioning of a biplane, triplane, or multiplane's wings in relation to one another.An aircraft is said to have positive stagger, or simply stagger, when the upper wing is positioned forward of the lower wing, such as the de Havilland Tiger Moth or...
, angle of incidence
Angle of incidence
Angle of incidence is a measure of deviation of something from "straight on", for example:* in the approach of a ray to a surface, or* the angle at which the wing or horizontal tail of an airplane is installed on the fuselage, measured relative to the axis of the fuselage.-Optics:In geometric...
and decalage
Decalage
Decalage on a fixed-wing aircraft is the angle difference between the upper and lower wings of a biplane, i.e. the acute angle contained between the chords of the wings in question....
particularly in early monoplane
Monoplane
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with one main set of wing surfaces, in contrast to a biplane or triplane. Since the late 1930s it has been the most common form for a fixed wing aircraft.-Types of monoplane:...
designs. The initial setting or in-service adjustment of these angles, usually with the help of a clinometer
Inclinometer
An inclinometer or clinometer is an instrument for measuring angles of slope , elevation or depression of an object with respect to gravity...
and plumb-bob
Plumb-bob
A plumb-bob or a plummet is a weight, usually with a pointed tip on the bottom, that is suspended from a string and used as a vertical reference line, or plumb-line....
, is known as 'rigging'. Cabane struts found on early aircraft were often made of wood with later biplanes using aerofoil
Airfoil
An airfoil or aerofoil is the shape of a wing or blade or sail as seen in cross-section....
-sectioned tubular steel.
Rarely, the lower wing of a biplane is placed entirely below the lower surface of the fuselage, using cabane-like support struts, and such an arrangement could conceivably be called a "ventral cabane strut" assembly. Examples of this arrangement from late World War I are the British Bristol F.2 Fighter
Bristol F.2 Fighter
The Bristol F.2 Fighter was a British two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War flown by the Royal Flying Corps. It is often simply called the Bristol Fighter or popularly the "Brisfit" or "Biff". Despite being a two-seater, the F.2B proved to be an agile aircraft...
two-seat fighter biplane, and the German Pfalz D.XIV experimental fighter.
Cabane struts are also found on parasol wing
Parasol wing
A parasol wing monoplane is an aircraft design in which the wing is not mounted directly to the fuselage, but rather, the fuselage is supported beneath it by a set of struts, called cabane struts...
aircraft, which are monoplanes with their single wing level elevated above the fuselage on cabane struts, like the upper wing of a typical biplane.