Draw a WW1 Biplane: Wings, Struts, and Cockpit

Object Drawing Lessons

This lesson teaches a reliable way to draw a WW1 biplane in side view. You will set a baseline, place two parallel wings, add vertical struts at consistent spacing, and position the cockpit between the wings. The method uses simple arithmetic and a defined drawing convention so you can check your work. All measurements are hypothetical examples; measure your own paper and tools. The focus is biplane-specific: wing stacking, strut placement, and cockpit layout. Modern aircraft, jets, and airport scenes are outside this lesson.

Practice materials: Printable downloads are not available for this lesson yet. Use the instructions and four exercises below.

Set the baseline and wing stack

Start with a horizontal baseline across the middle of your paper. This line represents the lower wing's centerline in side view. Decide a wing gap: the vertical distance between the lower and upper wing centerlines. For example, if your paper is 20 cm tall, a hypothetical gap of 4 cm keeps both wings visible. Mark the upper wing centerline 4 cm above the baseline using a ruler.

Draw the lower wing as a thin horizontal shape centered on the baseline. Its chord (front-to-back depth) might be 6 cm in this example. Draw the upper wing directly above it with the same chord and the same front and back positions. Alignment matters: the leading edges should line up vertically, and the trailing edges should line up vertically. Use light guide lines to confirm alignment before darkening.

1. Draw a horizontal baseline and label it lower wing centerline.
2. Mark a point 4 cm above the baseline for the upper wing centerline.
3. Draw the lower wing as a thin horizontal shape, 6 cm chord, centered on the baseline.
4. Draw the upper wing with the same chord directly above, aligning leading and trailing edges.
5. Check that both wings are parallel and that the gap is consistent along their length.

Place struts with even spacing

Struts are vertical or slightly angled connectors between the wings. In side view, show them as narrow rectangles or lines. Choose a strut spacing along the wing chord. If the chord is 6 cm, a hypothetical layout of four struts at equal spacing uses centers at 1.2 cm, 2.4 cm, 3.6 cm, and 4.8 cm from the leading edge; this creates five equal 1.2 cm gaps between the leading edge, the struts, and the trailing edge, keeping every strut inside the wing outline. Mark these positions on both wing centerlines so the struts connect matching points.

Draw each strut from the lower wing to the upper wing. Keep the strut width small, for example 0.5 cm, and keep all struts the same width. If you angle the struts, angle them consistently. Check that each strut starts and ends at the same chord position on both wings. Even spacing and matching endpoints make the biplane read correctly. When checking clearance near the cockpit, remember that a strut centered at 2.4 cm with 0.5 cm width occupies 2.15–2.65 cm, and one centered at 3.6 cm occupies 3.35–3.85 cm.

1. Mark four chord positions at 1.2 cm, 2.4 cm, 3.6 cm, and 4.8 cm from the leading edge.
2. Transfer the same marks to the upper wing centerline.
3. Draw a narrow strut connecting each pair of marks.
4. Keep strut width consistent, for example 0.5 cm.
5. Check that struts are parallel or consistently angled and that endpoints match.

Lay out the cockpit and fuselage

The cockpit sits on the fuselage between the wings. In side view, place the cockpit opening between the mid-front and mid-rear struts. Draw a short fuselage body connecting the wings, with a rounded nose at the front and a tail section at the back. The cockpit opening can be a simple U-shape or a small rectangle with a raised rim.

Keep the cockpit proportional to the wing gap. If the gap is 4 cm, a cockpit opening 0.6 cm wide and 1 cm deep is a reasonable hypothetical example. With struts centered at 2.4 cm and 3.6 cm and 0.5 cm wide, a cockpit centered at 3.0 cm spans 2.7–3.3 cm, leaving 0.05 cm clearance to each strut edge at 2.65 cm and 3.35 cm. Check that the cockpit does not overlap the struts and that it sits on the fuselage centerline. Add a simple tailplane and fin at the rear, aligned with the fuselage.

1. Draw the fuselage as a horizontal shape between the wings.
2. Mark the cockpit position between the mid-front and mid-rear struts.
3. Draw the cockpit opening as a U-shape or small rectangle with a rim.
4. Add a tailplane and fin aligned with the fuselage.
5. Check that the cockpit is clear of struts and centered on the fuselage.

Refine and self-check

Darken the final lines and erase guide marks. Label the upper wing, lower wing, struts, and cockpit so the biplane-specific parts are easy to identify. Letter styles vary, so accept any readable style; the labels only need to point clearly to the correct parts.

A simple rubric helps: wings parallel and aligned, struts evenly spaced and matching endpoints, cockpit between the wings and clear of struts, and overall proportions consistent with your chosen gap and chord. Valid alternatives include slightly angled struts or a rounded cockpit rim, as long as spacing and alignment remain checkable.

1. Erase guide lines and darken final outlines.
2. Measure wing gap and chord to confirm consistency.
3. Measure strut spacing and width for evenness.
4. Confirm cockpit position between the mid-front and mid-rear struts.
5. Label the upper wing, lower wing, struts, and cockpit.

Worked example

Draw a side-view biplane on a 20 cm tall paper using a 4 cm wing gap and a 6 cm wing chord. Place four struts at 1.2 cm, 2.4 cm, 3.6 cm, and 4.8 cm from the leading edge. Place the cockpit between the mid-front and mid-rear struts.

Four practice exercises

Common mistakes

• Drawing the upper wing shifted forward or backward relative to the lower wing. Use vertical guide lines from the lower wing's leading and trailing edges to align the upper wing.
• Spacing struts unevenly or using different widths. Mark chord positions at equal intervals and use the same strut width for every strut.
• Placing the cockpit over a strut or outside the wing gap. Position the cockpit between the mid-front and mid-rear struts and check it sits on the fuselage centerline.
• Making the wing gap too small so the wings merge visually. Choose a gap that is clearly visible, such as one-fifth of the paper height, and measure it.

Self-check rubric

• Wings are parallel and leading/trailing edges align vertically.
• Wing gap is consistent and clearly visible.
• Struts are evenly spaced and connect matching chord positions.
• Strut width is consistent across all struts.
• Cockpit sits between the mid-front and mid-rear struts and is clear of struts.
• Fuselage, tailplane, and fin align with the wing stack.
• Labels clearly identify the upper wing, lower wing, struts, and cockpit.

Questions and answers