Where is the nacelle mounted on most multi-engine propeller-driven airplanes?

• A. On the tailplane
• B. Under the fuselage
• C. Inside the engine nacelle only
• D. On the leading edge of the wing

Answer: (D)

Engine nacelles are the streamlined housings that carry the engine and propeller. On most multi-engine propeller airplanes, these nacelles are mounted on the leading edge of the wings. This places the propellers in clean, undisturbed air, minimizes interference with the wing and fuselage, and helps keep the engine weight near the wing’s centerline for stable handling. It also simplifies maintenance and often allows the landing gear to retract into the nacelles. Mounting engines on the tail or under the fuselage would disrupt aerodynamics and structure, so the wing-leading-edge location is the practical standard.