strutbraced

Strutbraced refers to an aircraft design in which the wings or other lifting surfaces are supported by external bracing members, such as struts and sometimes wires, rather than being built as cantilever structures that rely solely on internal spars. The struts form a truss that transfers lift and other loads between the wing and the fuselage or between wings.

In strut-braced configurations, the external members connect to the wing spars to carry bending and torsional loads. This arrangement can reduce the required wing structural weight or permit a larger wing area and span for a given overall weight. The trade-off is aerodynamic: external bracing adds parasitic drag, reducing cruise efficiency and top speed compared with cantilever wings. Maintenance of the bracing system and added drag are considerations in design and operation.

Historically, strut-braced wings were common in early aviation and remain typical of many biplanes, parasol-wing configurations, and some high-wing light aircraft. They offer ruggedness, simpler fabrication, and favorable low-speed handling, which can be advantageous for training, bush flying, or operations from rough airfields. In modern turboprops and light sport aircraft, strut-braced or wire-braced wing designs are sometimes retained for their practicality and cost, though many contemporary designs favor cantilever wings for higher aerodynamic efficiency.

In summary, strutbraced describes wings supported by external struts, balancing structural simplicity and low-speed performance against aerodynamic drag and higher maintenance compared with cantilever wings.