Engineering English
Skin
Aerospace Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: In aircraft structures, the skin is the outer covering of the fuselage, wings, and empennage that transmits aerodynamic loads to the internal structure and provides a smooth aerodynamic surface. It is typically made of aluminum alloys or composite materials.
Example in context
“The wing skin must be replaced after a fatigue crack was discovered along the rivet line during a scheduled maintenance check.”
“Planlı bakım kontrolü sırasında perçin hattı boyunca bir yorulma çatlağı keşfedildikten sonra kanat dış kaplaması değiştirilmelidir.”
Where engineers use it
The skin is a critical element in airframe stress analysis; engineers evaluate its thickness and material as part of fatigue and damage tolerance assessments. It also affects the aerodynamic smoothness and radar signature.
Synonyms: aircraft skin, fuselage skin, outer panel
Practice: can you use “Skin” at work?
You are reviewing a repair procedure for a composite skin panel on a wide-body aircraft. Describe the key considerations for restoring both aerodynamic and structural performance.
Show a model answer
“Inspect the aircraft skin for dents, cracks, or corrosion after each flight.”
“Skin” in 21 languages
| English | Skin |
|---|---|
| Turkish | dış kaplama |
| French | revêtement |
| German | Außenhaut |
| Spanish | revestimiento |
| Chinese | 蒙皮 |
| Arabic | الغلاف الخارجي |
| Portuguese | revestimento |
| Russian | обшивка |
| Japanese | スキン |
| Italian | rivestimento |
| Vietnamese | vỏ ngoài |
| Hindi | त्वचा (आवरण) |
| Thai | ผิวหนังอากาศยาน |
| Indonesian | kulit |
| Korean | 스킨 |
| Bengali | স্কিন |
| Dutch | huid |
| Swedish | hud |
| Finnish | pintalevy |
| Ukrainian | обшивка |
Frequently asked questions
What does Skin mean in engineering?
In aircraft structures, the skin is the outer covering of the fuselage, wings, and empennage that transmits aerodynamic loads to the internal structure and provides a smooth aerodynamic surface. It is typically made of aluminum alloys or composite materials. In Aerospace Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Skin?
Skin is pronounced /skɪn/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Skin used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The wing skin must be replaced after a fatigue crack was discovered along the rivet line during a scheduled maintenance check.”
This entry is one of 7,806 terms in the Engineering English iOS app — with quizzes, spaced repetition and pronunciation checking.
Get the app on the App Store