# Aircraft fairing

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Structure on an aircraft made to reduce drag

"Wheel spat" redirects here. For automotive wheel spats, see [fender skirts](/source/Fender_skirts).

The wing root fairing of an [American Aviation AA-1 Yankee](/source/American_Aviation_AA-1_Yankee)

An **aircraft fairing** is a structure whose primary function is to produce a smooth outline and reduce [drag](/source/Drag_(physics)).[1]

These structures are covers for gaps and spaces between parts of an [aircraft](/source/Aircraft) to reduce [form drag](/source/Form_drag) and [interference drag](/source/Interference_drag), and to improve appearance.[1][2]

A cockpit fairing or "pod" with a windshield on a [P&M GT450](/source/P%26M_GT450) [ultralight trike](/source/Ultralight_trike)

Spats on a [Cessna Skylane 182T](/source/Cessna_182)

An aircraft wheel fairing, commonly called a *wheel pant* or *spat* or, by some manufacturers, a *speed fairing*

## Types

On aircraft, fairings are commonly found on:

**Belly fairing**
- Also called a "ventral fairing", it is located on the underside of the [fuselage](/source/Fuselage) between the main [wings](/source/Wing). It can also cover additional cargo storage or fuel tanks.[3]

**Cockpit fairing**
- Also called a "*cockpit pod*",[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] it protects the crew on [ultralight trikes](/source/Ultralight_trike). Commonly made from [fiberglass](/source/Fiberglass), it may also incorporate a windshield.[4]

**[Elevator and horizontal stabilizer tips](/source/Elevator_(aircraft))**
- Elevator and stabilizer tips fairings smooth out airflow at the tips.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

**Fin and [rudder](/source/Rudder) tip fairings**
- Fin and rudder tip fairings reduce drag at low angles of attack but also reduce the stall angle, so the fairing of control surface tips depends on the application.[5]

**Fillets**
- Fillets smooth the airflow at the junction between two components, such as the fuselage and wing.

**Fixed [landing gear](/source/Landing_gear) junctions**
- Landing gear fairings reduce drag at these junctions.[6]

**Flap track fairings**
- Fairings are needed to enclose the [flap](/source/Flap_(aeronautics)) operating mechanism when the flap is up. They open up as the flap comes down and may also pivot to allow the necessary sideways movement of the extending mechanism which occurs on swept-wing installations.[7]

**[Spinner](/source/Spinner_(aircraft))**
- To protect and streamline the propeller hub.[8][9]

**Strut-to-wing and strut-to-fuselage junctions**
- Strut end fairings reduce drag at these junctions.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

**Tail cones**
- Tail cones streamline the rear extremity of a fuselage by eliminating the base area, which is a source of base drag.

**[Wing root](/source/Wing_root)**
- Wing roots are often faired to reduce interference drag between the wing and the fuselage. On the top and bottom of the wing, this consists of small rounded edges to reduce surface and friction drag. At the leading and trailing edge it consists of much larger taper and smooths out the pressure differences: high pressure at the leading and trailing edge, low pressure on top of the wing and around the fuselage.[10]

The flap track fairings on a [Boeing 747](/source/Boeing_747)

**[Wing tips](/source/Wing_tips)**
- Wing tips are often formed as complex shapes to reduce vortex generation and so also drag, especially at low speed.[11]

**Wheels on fixed gear aircraft**
- Wheel fairings are often called "*wheel pants*", "*speed fairings*" in North America or "*wheel [spats](/source/Spats_(footwear))*" or "*trousers*", in the United Kingdom, the latter enclosing both the wheel and landing gear leg. These fairings are a trade-off: they increase the frontal and surface area but provide a smooth surface and a faired nose and tail for laminar flow, in an attempt to reduce the turbulence created by the round wheel and its associated gear legs and brakes. They also serve the important function of preventing mud and stones from being thrown upwards against the wings or fuselage, or into the propeller on a pusher aircraft.[2][12][13]

## See also

- [Bicycle fairing](/source/Bicycle_fairing)

- [Motorcycle fairing](/source/Motorcycle_fairing)

- [Payload fairing](/source/Payload_fairing)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Crane206_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Crane206_1-1) Crane, Dale: *Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms, Third Edition*, page 206. Aviation Supplies & Academics Inc, Newcastle Washington, 1997. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-56027-287-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-56027-287-2)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-BingelisSP_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-BingelisSP_2-1) Bingelis, Tony: *The Sportplane Builder*, pages 261-265. [Experimental Aircraft Association](/source/Experimental_Aircraft_Association) Aviation Foundation, 1979. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-940000-30-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-940000-30-X)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Hitchens, Frank (2015). ["Belly fairing"](https://books.google.com/books?id=izv0CgAAQBAJ&pg=PT80). *The Encyclopedia of Aerodynamics*. Andrews UK. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-78-538324-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-78-538324-3).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Cliche_4-0)** Cliche, Andre: *Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide* 8th Edition, page C-17. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-9680628-1-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9680628-1-4)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Molland_5-0)** Molland, Anthony F. and Turnock, Stephen R.:"Marine Rudders and Control Surfaces: Principles, Data, Design and Applications" 1st Edition, section 5.3.2.11. Butterworth-Heineman, 2007. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-75-066944-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-75-066944-3)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Biermann, David; Herrnstein, William (June 21, 1934). ["The Drag of Airplane Wheels, Wheel Fairings and Landing Gear I1 Nonretractable and Partially Retractable Landing Gear"](http://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a278248.pdf) (PDF). *Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory*: 2–8. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170429100157/http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a278248.pdf) (PDF) from the original on April 29, 2017. Retrieved Oct 9, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [https://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2016/0340023.html](https://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2016/0340023.html), section 0003

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Bingelis_8-0)** Bingelis, Tony: *Bingelis on Engines*, pages 196-210. [Experimental Aircraft Association](/source/Experimental_Aircraft_Association) Aviation Foundation, 1995. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-940000-54-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-940000-54-7)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-BingelisFF_9-0)** Bingelis, Tony: *Firewall Forward*, pages 269-273. [Experimental Aircraft Association](/source/Experimental_Aircraft_Association) Aviation Foundation, 1992. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-940000-93-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-940000-93-8)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Devenport, W.J.; Agarwal, N.K. (December 1990). ["Effects of a fillet on the flow past a wing body junction"](https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/abs/10.2514/3.10517?journalCode=aiaaj). *AIAA*. **28** (12): 94–116. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1990AIAAJ..28.2017D](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1990AIAAJ..28.2017D). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2514/3.10517](https://doi.org/10.2514%2F3.10517). Retrieved October 9, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Met-Co_11-0)** Met-Co-Aire (2011). ["Why They Work, The Hoerner Design"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120116213704/http://www.metcoaire.com/technical/tech_hoerner_design.shtml). Archived from [the original](http://metcoaire.com/technical/tech_hoerner_design.shtml) on 16 January 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-BingelisSCT_12-0)** Bingelis, Tony: *Sportplane Construction Techniques*, pages 125-130. [Experimental Aircraft Association](/source/Experimental_Aircraft_Association) Aviation Foundation, 1986. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-940000-92-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-940000-92-X)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Crane, Dale: *Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms, third edition*, page 377. Aviation Supplies & Academics, 1997. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-56027-287-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-56027-287-2)

v t e Aircraft components and systems Airframe structure Aft pressure bulkhead Cabane strut Canopy Crack arrestor Cruciform tail Dope Empennage Fabric covering Fairing Flying wires Former Fuselage Hardpoint Interplane strut Jury strut Leading edge Lift strut Longeron Nacelle Rib Spar Stabilizer Stressed skin Strut T-tail Tailplane Trailing edge Triple tail Twin tail V-tail Vertical stabilizer Wing root Wing tip Wingbox Flight controls Aileron Airbrake Artificial feel Autopilot Canard Centre stick Deceleron Dive brake Dual control Electro-hydraulic actuator Elevator Elevon Flaperon Flight control modes Fly-by-wire Gust lock HOTAS Rudder Rudder pedals Servo tab Side-stick Spoiler Spoileron Stabilator Stick pusher Stick shaker Trim tab Wing warping Yaw damper Yoke Aerodynamic and high-lift devices Active Aeroelastic Wing Adaptive compliant wing Anti-shock body Blown flap Channel wing Dog-tooth Drag-reducing aerospike Flap Gouge flap Gurney flap Krueger flap Leading-edge cuff Leading-edge droop flap LEX Slats Slot Stall strips Strake Variable-sweep wing Vortex generator Vortilon Wing fence Winglet Avionic and flight instrument systems ACAS Air data boom Air data computer Aircraft periscope Airspeed indicator Altimeter Annunciator panel Astrodome Attitude indicator Compass Course deviation indicator EFIS EICAS Flight management system Glass cockpit GPS Head-up display Heading indicator Horizontal situation indicator INS ISIS Multi-function display Pitot–static system Radar altimeter TCAS Transponder Turn and slip indicator Variometer Yaw string Propulsion controls, devices and fuel systems Autothrottle Drop tank FADEC Fuel tank Gascolator Inlet cone Intake ramp NACA cowling NACA duct Self-sealing fuel tank Splitter plate Throttle Thrust lever Thrust reversal Townend ring War emergency power Wet wing Landing and arresting gear Aircraft tire Arrestor hook Autobrake Conventional landing gear Drogue parachute Landing gear Landing gear extender Oleo strut Tricycle landing gear Tundra tire Escape systems Ejection seat Escape crew capsule Other systems Aircraft lavatory Auxiliary power unit Bleed air system Deicing boot Emergency oxygen system Environmental control system Flight recorder Hydraulic system Ice protection system In-flight entertainment system Landing lights Navigation light Passenger service unit Ram air turbine

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Aircraft fairing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_fairing) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_fairing?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.