What component of the aircraft is described as "most stressed"?

The wings of an aircraft are often considered the "most stressed" components due to the significant forces they experience during flight, particularly during takeoff, landing, and maneuvers. Wings must support the weight of the aircraft, withstand aerodynamic loads, and handle the stresses imposed by turbulence and changing flight conditions. The structural design of the wings incorporates materials and engineering practices that allow them to endure these stresses while maintaining both safety and performance.

In contrast, while wheels, landing gear, and the tail assembly all experience stresses specific to their functions, they do not bear the same level of sustained aerodynamic and structural loads as the wings do during flight. The landing gear, for instance, experiences high stresses during landing and taxiing but is designed to absorb these impacts, while the wheels are primarily concerned with ground support and do not face the same in-flight loads. The tail assembly primarily stabilizes the aircraft but does not share the extensive stress exposure as the wings. Therefore, the wings emerge as the most stressed components within the aircraft structure.