Editing Airframe (section)

{{Short description|Mechanical structure of an aircraft}}
{{for|the novel by Michael Crichton|Airframe (novel)}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2024}}[[File:RV-14 Cutaway TD - small.jpg|thumb|[[Van's RV-14]] cutaway showing its airframe]]

The [[Structural engineering#Mechanical structures|mechanical structure]] of an [[aircraft]] is known as the '''airframe'''.<ref>{{cite book|title=A Dictionary of Aviation |first=David W. |last=Wragg |isbn=0-85045-163-9 |publisher=Frederick Fell, Inc. |publication-place=New York |date=1974 |edition=1st American |page=22}}</ref> This structure is typically considered to include the [[fuselage]], [[Landing gear|undercarriage]], [[empennage]] and [[wing]]s,  and excludes the [[Air propulsion|propulsion system]].<ref>{{cite web |title=FAA Definitions |url=http://www.faa-aircraft-certification.com/faa-definitions.html |access-date=2020-04-30}}</ref>

[[Aircraft design process|Airframe design]] is a field of [[aerospace engineering]] that combines [[aerodynamics]], [[Materials science|materials technology]] and [[manufacturing]] methods with a focus on weight, strength and [[aerodynamic drag]], as well as [[Reliability engineering|reliability]] and cost.<!--ref>Michael C. Y. Niu (1988). ''Airframe Structural Design''. Conmilit Press LTD.</ref-->