People left stunned after learning about secret plane wing function
PEOPLE have only just realised an amazing plane fact that changes how they think about the aircraft.
Very few people know exactly how planes work, with the science behind getting the huge tubes of metal thousands of feet into the air a pretty baffling concept.
However, one Twitter user recently revealed a fact about planes that shocked and surprised other people online.
The user, who goes by the name freshly mwamburi online tweeted a diagram of a plane that revealed the fuel was actually stored inside the wings.
They said: “How old were you when you learned planes carry fuel on their wings?”
The tweet has been viewed more than 250,000 times, with people just as amazed about it as the original tweeter.
One replied: “I was today years old.”
Another said: “Wow, just now!”
A third person, who was already aware, explained exactly why it was done.
They added: “Weight distribution: Placing the fuel tanks in the wings helps distribute the weight evenly across the aircraft.
“This balance is important for maintaining stability and maneuverability during flight.”
While this may be one of the reasons, it’s not the only one.
Aviation website Aerocorner provided further reasons for the plane’s fuel being stored in the wings, or “wet wigs” as it’s known.
Firstly, it means a separate tank isn’t needed to be fitted to the outside of the plane.
They said: “This method uses the aircraft wing structure, completely sealed, as a fuel tank instead of fitting a dedicated container inside the wing.”
Additionally, it works as a cost-saving method for airlines, who can fit extra cargo or passengers on board their aircraft and will have to spend less on maintenance.
Aerocorner continued: “Heavy tanks and bladders need regular maintenance and limits the amount of passengers or cargo the aircraft can carry.
“With less maintenance and more payload, this design was putting dollar signs in the eyes of potential buyers.”
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