Airplanes: Can You Name the Equipment From an Image?

Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Airplanes: Can You Name the Equipment From an Image?
Image: ZoneCreative / Photodisc / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Can you tell the difference between a propeller and a rudder, a cockpit and a cabin or a compass and a control wheel? Think you can identify the equipment and devices that help an airplane travel from here to there safely? Take our quiz to see how much you really know about planes!

In 1903, a pair of adventurous brothers named Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first self-propelled flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Their heavier-than-air plane traveled 120 feet in just around 12 seconds. While today's planes can take you all the way around the world in a single day, the basic technology involved in flight is the same; an engine creates speed, forcing air beneath the wings and generating the lift required to keep the plane in the sky. Just a little over a century after man first flew, nearly 2 million people travel by plane every day in the U.S. alone.

Watching planes fly might seem like magic, but it's actually a matter of simple science and technology. Of course, it takes a whole lot of equipment to keep the process running smoothly. Think you can name it all? Take this quiz to find out!

engine
Monty Rakusen / Cultura / Getty Images
Can you name this airplane part?
engine
propeller
jetway
spoiler
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A typical commercial plane has one to two engines mounted on each wing. These powerful machines help the plane generate enough speed to overcome the weight of the aircraft and lift the vessel into the sky.

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cockpit
James Lauritz / DigitalVision / Getty Images
What is this equipment called?
rudder
attitude indicator
cockpit
aileron
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Think of the cockpit as the control center for the entire aircraft. Located at the front of the plane, it's where you'll find the control panel and steering devices, as well as the pilot and co-pilot.

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fuselage
Artur Debat / Moment / Getty Images
Airplanes wouldn't fly as well without the part shown here. Can you name it?
landing gear
fuselage
winglet
oxygen mask
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The fuselage is the main part of the aircraft. It includes pretty much the entire vessel other than the wings and tail, and holds everything from crew to passengers and cargo.

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wing
MirageC / Moment / Getty Images
Can you name the part shown in this image?
attitude indicator
fuel gauge
rudder
wing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A typical plane has a pair of wings extending parallel to the ground. They are sized carefully -- too long, and they create drag -- too short, and the plane won't able to fly. A standard 747 has a 211-foot wingspan on average.

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airspeed indicator
Wiki Commons by Christian Schröder
Think you know the name of this equipment?
airspeed indicator
door
window
jetway
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Think of an airspeed indicator like the speedometer in your car. It tells the pilot how fast the plane is traveling in knots and miles per hour. Many are color-coded so that pilots can easily stay within a safe range of speed.

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propeller
tama66 / Pixabay
Can you name the equipment in this picture?
winglet
propeller
altimeter
aileron
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A propeller is a traditional piece of airplane equipment. Made from wood, metal or composites, it's situated on the nose of the plane, and is used to generate a wind force known as a slipstream. Propellers are generally found on planes that travel below 500 miles per hour.

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flaps
skaman306 / Moment / Getty Images
Choose the correct name for the equipment shown here.
jetway
rudder
flaps
pylons
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Flaps are located on the trailing edges of the wings. The pilot can manipulate these strips of metal to increase the lift of the plane when needed -- like during takeoff.

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vertical stabilizer
Image Source / Getty Images
What is this airplane component called?
vertical stabilizer
propeller
flaps
rolling stairs
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The vertical stabilizer is located on the back of the plane, oriented perpendicular to the fuselage. It's used not only for directional stability, but also to control vertical drag.

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landing gear
Flightlevel80 / E+ / Getty Images
Pick the right name for this equipment.
landing gear
flaps
engine
attitude indicator
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A plane needs wheels to take off and land, but these wheels could impact lift and drag if they were left to hang below the plane all the time. Instead, the entire landing gear mechanism tucks up inside the plane after takeoff, and gets lowered back down again for landing.

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altimeter
mikulas1 / E+ / Getty Images
Remember what this aircraft component is called?
altimeter
spoiler
rolling stairs
horizontal stabilizer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An altimeter tells a pilot just how high he or she is flying. This cockpit instrument displays the vertical height above sea level. The measurement self-corrects for the effects of air pressure so the pilot has an accurate reading.

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slats
Wiki Commons by Cobatfor
What's the name of this component?
rudder pedals
landing gear
slats
door
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Slats are metal sections that open up on the leading edge of the plane's wings. They are similar to the flaps found on the trailing edge of the wings, but are used to manipulate the area of the wings to control forces like lift and drag.

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winglet
Photos by Mohd Firdaus / Moment / Getty Images
Know what this equipment is called?
APU exhaust
winglet
windshield
turn coordinator
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

No, a winglet isn't just a tiny wing. It is actually the term used to describe the tips of the wings themselves, which hinge upward at the ends. This reduces inefficiency and improves both safety and handling in the air.

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spoiler
Wiki Commons by Stahlkocher
Can you name the equipment in this picture?
turn coordinator
deicing vehicle
oxygen vehicle
spoiler
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Yes, just like cars, planes can also have spoilers, and they work sort of the same way. Located on the wings, the spoilers help to reduce lift, making them useful during descent and landing.

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door
Image Source / Getty Images
Name this airplane equipment.
pushback tug
door
aircraft jack
elevator
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

As you might imagine, a plane door has some pretty special features to help it stay safely in place in the air. Officially known as a plug door, the doors on a plane have a wedge shape that forces a tighter fit between the door and the surrounding plane body the higher the plane climbs.

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rudder
Ed Freeman / DigitalVision / Getty Images
What's the name of this mechanism?
heading indicator
rudder
chocks
compass
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Plane rudders are flaps located on the back of the vertical stabilizer, which extends out of the back of the fuselage and up into the sky. They can be used for turning, but are primarily used to control the yaw of the plane -- the direction that the nose is pointing.

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attitude indicator
infospeed / E+ / Getty Images
Think you know the name of this part?
landing gear
oxygen mask
evacuation slide
attitude indicator
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Attitude indicators show the location of the plane as it relates to the ground and sky. They consist of a small gauge, with blue representing the sky and brown representing the ground, as well as a white horizon line. A tiny plane diagram lets the pilot know whether the plane is climbing, descending or level.

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aileron
Wiki Commons by Meihe Chen
Can you ID this airplane equipment?
oxygen mask
window
rudder pedals
aileron
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ailerons are located on the trailing edges of the wings -- closer to the tips of the wings than to the main body of the vessel. They are similar to flaps, but are primarily used to control rolling and banking.

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horizontal stabilizer
Image Source / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Think you can identify this equipment used in the airline industry?
landing gear
direction indicator
horizontal stablizer
jetway
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A horizontal stabilizer looks almost like a tiny set of wings extending out of the rear of the plane to either side of the fuselage. This equipment keeps the plane flying straight and stable, and is used to control a movement known as pitching.

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heading indicator
Fotosearch / Getty Images
Name the part you see in this picture.
propeller
heading indicator
evacuation slide
jetway
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A heading indicator is a gauge in the cockpit that provides directional information, similar to a compass. It uses a gyroscope technology, and may be powered by a vacuum or electricity.

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fuel gauge
southerlycourse / E+ / Getty Images
Think you can identify this equipment used in the airline industry?
aileron
landing gear
fuel gauge
fuselage
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you think running low on fuel in your car is bad, imagine running out thousands of feet in the air! A fuel gauge lets pilots see if the plane is properly fueled, or alerts them that it's time for a fill up.

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control wheel
Digital Vision / Photodisc / Getty Images
Name the part you see in this picture.
control wheel
rudder
aileron
winglet
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Think of the control wheel like the steering wheel in your car; this equipment is used to steer the plane, and many larger planes actually have two sets -- one for the pilot and one for the co-pilot.

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compass
courtneyk / E+ / Getty Images
Can you name this piece of equipment sometimes still used in aviation?
jetway
chocks
wing
compass
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A compass is an old-school tool used to determine which direction the plane is heading. While altitude and pressure can affect the accuracy of this tool, it's still useful if more modern tools aren't available.

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chocks
Oscar Bjarnason / Cultura / Getty Images
Choose the correct name for the equipment shown here.
engine
door
chocks
aileron
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Chocks are relatively simple devices made of wood, metal or composites. They are positioned behind the wheels to keep the plane in one spot during loading and unloading.

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deicing vehicle
wwing / E+ / Getty Images
Airplanes wouldn't fly well without the help of the equipment shown here. Can you name it?
artificial horizon
deicing vehicle
propeller
cockpit
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Anyone who has every tried to fly during an icy winter is likely pretty familiar with deicing vehicles. These machines remove snow, ice and frost so a plane can safely take off.

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vertical speed indicator
mikulas1 / E+ / Getty Images
Know what this equipment is called?
engine
vertical speed indicator
flaps
vertical stabilizer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A vertical speed indicator is different than a plane old speedometer. It shows the rate of climb or descent in feet per minute. When the plane is flying perfectly level, the indicator will display a zero value.

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oxygen mask
Thinkstock / Stockbyte / Getty Images
Pick the right name for this equipment.
oxygen mask
landing gear
evacuation slide
pushback tug
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Oxygen can get tricky at extreme elevations. If there is a problem on the plane, oxygen masks fall from the ceiling to allow passengers to breathe. And yes, you should always put on your mask first before helping others.

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evacuation slide
Wiki Commons by airliners.net / Fæ
Can you name the part shown in this image?
jetway
evacuation slide
flaps
wing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Stairs or a jetway are a natural way on and off a plane, but sometimes these exit devices aren't available. An evacuation slide allows passengers to quickly leave the aircraft and make it to safety.

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pylon
James Lauritz / Photographer's Choice RF / Getty Images
Remember what this aircraft component is called?
horizontal stabilizer
door
pylon
winglet
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The engines of a plane don't just hang directly from the engine. Instead, they are mounted on structures called pylons, which are installed on the wings themselves. A plane can have anywhere from two to four pylons on average depending on the number of engines.

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elevator
Fuse / Corbis / Getty Images
What's the name of this component?
elevator
propeller
winglet
fuel gauge
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

No, it's not an elevator in the traditional sense. Instead, the elevator on an airplane is a pair of horizontal flaps located on the horizontal stabilizer at the rear of the plane. It's used to control pitch -- a motion related to whether the nose is pointing up, down or straight ahead.

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APU exhaust
Wiki Commons by David Monniaux
What is this equipment called?
pylons
oxygen mask
APU exhaust
evacuation slide
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Believe it or not, many planes have a separate engine hidden in the very rear of the fuselage. Known as the auxiliary power engine, it provides power to light, heat and cool the plane while it's on the ground -- and also serves as a redundant engine in case something goes wrong in the air.

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rudder pedals
Almost Aviation via YouTube
Know the name of this component?
engine cowl
door
rudder pedals
windshield
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Rudder pedals look like the pedals in a car, but serve a very different function. They control the rudders -- flaps on the back of the stabilizer -- which help to stabilize and control the direction of travel.

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pushback tug
Wiki Commons by Jamesshliu
Match this equipment to its name.
pushback tug
landing gear
engine
vertical speed indicator
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Airports are busy places, and it can be tricky for these giant machines to maneuver their way from the gate to the runway. Pushback tugs are utility vehicles that tow the plane away from the gate and get it ready to race down the runway.

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aircraft jack
Wiki Commons by Jamesshliu
What's the name of this mechanism?
engine
aircraft jack
pushback tug
landing gear
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When a plane is on the ground, it's essentially balancing on a small set of landing gear. That leaves a whole bunch of wings and fuselage hanging out in the air to stay balanced. An aircraft jack is a device that can be placed under a portion of the plane to hold it steady, either during down time or maintenance.

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turn coordinator
Wiki Commons by Mysid
Can you ID this airplane equipment?
deicing vehicle
aircraft jack
engine
turn coordinator
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Turn coordinators are gyroscopic instruments powered by vacuum or electricity. They show a mini plane illustration, which indicates to the pilot whether the plane is dipping the wings in either direction, rolling or turning.

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windshield
kickers / E+ / Getty Images
What is this airplane component called?
engine
spoiler
windshield
aileron
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

As you might imagine, the windshield on a plane is up against incredible forces. It must be equipped to handle bird strikes, ice, pressure and fog. To do this, plane manufacturers use three layers of chemically treated glass for maximum strength and safety.

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engine cowl
Monty Rakusen / Cultura / Getty Images
Think you know the name of this part?
propeller
engine cowl
artificial horizon
landing gear
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An engine cowl is the metal cover that wraps around the engine. It not only protects the equipment from the elements, but is also integral to controlling cooling and air flow.

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rolling stairs
izusek / E+ / Getty Images
Name this airplane equipment.
rolling stairs
slats
winglet
vertical stablizer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When you see the president strolling off Air Force One, those are rolling stairs he is walking down. They are also used on commercial planes when a jetway isn't available.

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jetway
Monty Rakusen / Cultura / Getty Images
Think you know the name of this equipment?
flaps
attitude indicator
jetway
horizontal stabilizer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A jetway is a tunnel or covered walkway that allows passengers to enter the plane from the airport. This boarding bridge may also be called a jet bridge, gangway or sky bridge.

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You Got:
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ZoneCreative / Photodisc / Getty Images