What component in aviation serves to maintain the wing's contour and assist spars in bearing the bending loads?

• A. Stringers
• B. Spars
• C. Ribs
• D. Frames

Answer: (A)

The component that serves to maintain the wing's contour and assist spars in bearing the bending loads is the ribs. Ribs are structural elements that provide the necessary aerodynamic shape to the wing and support the skin, thereby reinforcing the overall wing structure. They help distribute the loads, particularly bending loads that the wing experiences during flight, by transferring these loads to the spars, which are the primary structural members running along the length of the wing. Ribs also help maintain the airfoil shape, ensuring optimal aerodynamic performance.

In contrast, stringers run longitudinally along the aircraft's fuselage or wings, providing additional support for the skin but are not primarily responsible for contour maintenance. Spars are indeed critical components of the wing structure that bear the majority of bending loads but are supplemented by the ribs which maintain the wing's shape. Frames typically relate to the fuselage structure and are integral to maintaining its shape, but they do not play the same role in wings as ribs do.