Definition
Structural members in a truss-type airframe or landing gear that carry compression loads, holding two points apart and resisting forces that would push them together. In aircraft, struts commonly appear as the rigid supports running from the fuselage to the wing on high-wing aircraft, and as part of the landing gear assembly absorbing impact loads.
Plain English
Strong rigid bars or tubes that hold parts of the aircraft apart and keep the structure from collapsing under load. On many small aircraft you can see them running from the bottom of the fuselage up to the wing.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft structure discussions, especially truss-type fuselages, wing bracing, landing gear, and preflight inspections of visible supports.
Derivation
From the Old English 'strutian,' meaning to stand stiffly or rigidly. The idea of stiffness is the key — a strut stays rigid under load instead of bending or compressing.
Why Pilots Care
Struts give the airframe stiffness and strength while keeping weight low, directly affecting structural safety and flight loads.
Analogy
A strut is like a tent pole that holds the tent in shape. If the pole bends or breaks, the fabric may still be there, but the structure no longer holds properly.
Intuition Check
Do not read “struts” as a way of walking proudly, and do not assume it only means a landing-gear shock absorber. In this chapter, struts are load-carrying support members in the aircraft structure.
Example Sentence 1
During preflight, the pilot checked the wing struts for any signs of dents, cracks, or loose fairings.
Example Sentence 2
During preflight the pilot checks the wing struts for dents or cracks that could weaken the structure.