The object of the review is polymer nanocomposites (PNC), which are used to increase the wear resistance and durability of mechanical contacting surfaces of parts of machines and mechanisms. The goal is to analyze the production and mechanical properties of PNC when they are used in aircraft and helicopter structural units operating in sliding pairs with a large resource. The analysis of existing research and publications on the use of PNC showed that the use of nanocomposites with a plastic base can be recommended for the manufacture of tribological pairs of aircraft parts. It was established that most authors among the considered nanoadditives give preference to nanodiamonds with a concentration in the range of 1...3%, which, in comparison with all other nanomaterials, give a consistently positive result and also have good environmental indicators.It was found that for parts of friction pairs it is possible to provide a friction coefficient of about 0.1 due to the use of composite polymers with ND. The following results were obtained. The performed review will allow to create a regulatory base of nanomaterials, necessary for solving structural and technological solutions in sliding pairs of aviation equipment. According to the analysis of the existing current and actual PNC and their preparation, it was established that a friction coefficient of 0.12 can be ensured for the titanium nanocomposite Ti/ND with a content of 0.35% of ND. It is shown that the galvanic application of nanocoatings on steel with a concentration of nanodiamonds in the solution of 8.0 g/l and a current density of 3.0 A/dm2 can provide the hardness of the composite coating with a maximum value of 5.302 GPa and an average grain size of 4 nm. The scientific novelty of the obtained results is as follows: the production technologies and main mechanical properties of PNC when used in sliding pairs of aircraft parts are analyzed. It was found that the existing publications do not provide enough information about the important parameters of the obtained materials, such as heat resistance, moisture resistance, environmental friendliness, and others. Conclusions. It is recommended to test ND with a concentration in the range of 1...3% on tribological parts of aircraft, as well as in sliding pairs with a long life. However, despite the unique mechanical properties of nanocomposites, the regulatory framework for the design of sliding pairs requires additional research and experiments. The given materials can be useful in carrying out theoretical and experimental studies on extending the resource, operation and repair of aircraft and helicopter parts.