What is the primary purpose of aircraft structures?

The primary purpose of aircraft structures is to provide strength and rigidity to withstand the various loads encountered during flight. Aircraft structures must be robust enough to handle forces such as lift, weight, thrust, and drag, as well as environmental stresses like turbulence and pressure changes.

These structures are designed to maintain the integrity of the aircraft while ensuring safety and performance. They serve as the framework that supports other components, such as the wings, fuselage, and tail, and must be engineered to resist deformation and failure under these operational loads.

While factors like flexibility, speed, maneuverability, and fuel efficiency are important considerations in aircraft design, they are secondary to the fundamental requirement for strength and rigidity. An aircraft that lacks adequate structural integrity cannot safely take to the skies, regardless of its other performance capabilities.