Definition
Ribs are the structural members inside a wing that run from the leading edge to the trailing edge, giving the wing its airfoil shape and transferring aerodynamic loads from the skin to the spars.
Plain English
Ribs are the curved frames inside a wing that hold its shape, like the bones that give a wing its profile from front to back.
Context Anchor
Seen in wing construction, preflight inspection discussions, and descriptions of how a wing gets its shape and strength.
Derivation
From the same word used for the curved bones in a human or animal chest. Just as ribs in the body give the chest its shape and support the surrounding tissue, ribs in a wing give it its curved airfoil shape and support the skin.
Why Pilots Care
Ribs keep the wing from deforming in flight, preserving lift and structural integrity.
Analogy
Think of the ribs of an umbrella. They give the fabric its shape and hold it open against the wind. Wing ribs do the same job for the wing's skin.
Intuition Check
Do not think of ribs as loose decorative strips or only as bones. In a wing, ribs are structural parts that help create and support the wing’s shape.
Example Sentence 1
The mechanic removed an inspection panel to check the ribs for cracks after the hard landing.
Example Sentence 2
Closer rib spacing helps the wing skin stay smooth under high-speed flight loads.