An airplane's interior is divided into two distinct sections: the fuselage and the cockpit. The cockpit, also known as the flight deck, is the frontmost section of the plane and includes the pilot's cabin and all of the aircraft controls. From the cockpit the pilot can view through the windshield and, usually, several side windows. The rest of the body of the plane is the fuselage, and contains the passenger and cargo areas. Seating, storage, galleys, and restrooms are all parts of the fuselage. Modern commercial aircraft include a security door to separate the cockpit from the fuselage for the pilot's safety.
Most airplanes get power from either a series of jet engines, or a set of propellers. Propeller planes are powered by a turbocharged internal combustion engine not unlike those used on some cars and trucks. Each propeller, whether mounted on the wings or at the nose of the plane, is directly run by such an engine. Jet aircraft use wing-mounted jet engines to produce thrust. Jets supply power by discharging fluid (usually compressed air) in the opposite direction of the aircraft's intended movement. Jet engines use turbines to compress and discharge air, thus powering the aircraft.
A plane's wings are carefully designed to allow for lift and maneuverability. The shape of wings, both in terms of surface shape and cross section, varies on different sorts of aircraft, but in each case the wing must be able to alter the pressure of air as it passes over the wing, creating high and low pressure areas that cause the aircraft to experience lift. A plane's wings contain flaps that can be controlled by the pilot. These flaps control the amount of lift being generated. They also alter drag and roll, allowing the pilot to steer while in flight and slow the aircraft for landing.
Steering is accomplished by use of the wing flaps, as well as the rudder. Located at the rear of the plane's body, the rudder is a flap that is attached to the vertical stabilizer. The vertical stabilizer and rudder are used to control yaw (the plane's motion from side to side). Below this, the horizontal stabilizer resembles a small pair of wings and is used to change pitch (the up and down motion of the plane). The aileron is an additional flap on the main wings that can be moved to control the plane's roll.
All of the moving elements that control a plane's motion, as well as the engines themselves, are controlled by the pilot from the cockpit. A plane's rudder and brakes are usually controlled by a series of pedals, similar to the brake pedals on a car. A throttle lever is pushed forward or pulled back to control the output of the engines. Steering is accomplished by use of a control wheel, which resembles a car's steering wheel but is articulated in additional directions. Radar displays, navigation information, and additional data are displayed by a vast series of meters, screens, and gauges. The cockpit is also the pilot's communications center, containing radios and allowing her to communicate with air traffic controllers.
