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This article is about aircraft nacelles. For wind turbine nacelles, see Nacelle (wind turbine).
Engines in nacelles on a Boeing 707.

The nacelle (/nəˈsɛl/ nə-SELL) is a housing, separate from the fuselage, that holds engines, fuel, or equipment on an aircraft. In some cases—for instance in the typical "Farman" type "pusher" aircraft, or the World War II-era P-38 Lightning—an aircraft's cockpit may also be housed in a nacelle, which essentially fills the function of a conventional fuselage. The covering is typically aerodynamically shaped.[1]

Other uses[edit]

Popular culture[edit]


Like many aviation terms, the word comes from French, in this case from a word for a small boat.[6]


  1. ^ Ilan Kroo, Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics (April 13, 1999). "Nacelle Design and Sizing". Aircraft Aerodynamics and Design Group at Stanford University. Retrieved April 22, 2011. 
  2. ^ p 107, Davies, Ivor It's A Triumph(Haynes Foulis 1980, 1990 edit.) ISBN 0 85429 182 2
  3. ^ American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) video on construction of an individual wind turbine.
  4. ^ "Star Trek DB - Nacelle". CBS Entertainment. 
  5. ^ "TOMCC - Nacelle Magazine". Triumph Owners' Motor Cycle Club. 
  6. ^ "Online Etymology Dictionary". Retrieved 5 December 2013.