Glossary of Aeronautics Terms

The following list of aeronautics terms will be useful when studying flight and the future of flight.

Accelerate - To speed up. For example, when an airplane takes off it accelerates down the runway until enough lift is created by the air flowing over the wings so that it can fly.

Aerodynamics - A field of fluid dynamics that studies how gases, including air, flow and how forces act upon objects moving through air.

Aeronautics - The study of flight and the science of building and operating an aircraft.

Ailerons - Control surfaces on the trailing edge of each wing that are used to make the aircraft roll. When flying straight and level, moving the control stick to the right will raise the aileron on the right wing and lower the aileron on the left wing. This will cause the aircraft to roll to the right.

Aircraft - A machine used for flying. Airplanes, helicopters, blimps and jets are all aircraft.

Airflow - The motion of air molecules as they flow around an object, such as a wing.

Airfoil - An object with a special shape that is designed to produce lift efficiently when the object is moved through the air. For example, the cross-section of a wing is an airfoil.

Airplane - An aircraft that uses the force of air on its wings (called lift) to fly.

Air pressure - The force created by air pushing on a surface.

Altitude - The height of an object, like an airplane, above sea level or above the earth's surface.

Angle of attack - The angle of a wing to the oncoming airflow. A pilot pulls back on the control stick to raise the elevator. This causes the aircraft to pitch which increases the angle of attack.

Aviation - The operation of aircraft. There are three types of aviation: general, commercial and military.

Axis - A straight line, through the center of gravity, around which an aircraft rotates. For example, an aircraft rolls around its longitudinal axis which is a straight line that runs through the center of the aircraft from the nose to the tail.

Balanced forces - Opposing forces that are pushing or pulling against each other an equal amount. For example, if you and a friend pull on a rope, in the opposite direction with the same force, neither of you will move. This is because the forces are balanced.

Bernoulli, Daniel - a Swiss mathematician. He is famous for his work in the field of fluid dynamics. In 1738 he wrote a book called Hydrodynamica. In this book he explained his theories about how gases and fluids move, and how the speed at which they move affects the pressure they exert on objects they flow around. This is the basis for the explanation of lift. His work helped to lay the foundation for aeronautics which would be developed many years later.

Bernoulli's Principle - Daniel Bernoulli explained that the faster molecules within a fluid move, the less pressure they exert on objects around them. This applies to all fluids, including water, air and gases. For example, the water in a pond will exert more pressure on the pond's bottom than a flowing stream with the same amount of water will exert on the streambed.

Biplane - An airplane with two sets of wings. The first airplane ever built had two sets of wings, one on top of the other.

Camber - The curve of an airfoil.

Canard - a tail configuration (two small horizontal surfaces on either side of the aircraft) mounted toward the front of the aircraft, rather than at the rear.

Center of gravity - The force of gravity acts on every individual part of an object, like an airplane. However, engineers often treat the force of gravity on all the parts of an object as a single force acting on a point in the object called the center of gravity.

Chord line - A line from the front of an airfoil (the leading edge) to the trailing edge.

Cockpit - A compartment in the front of the airplane where the flight crew performs their job of flying the aircraft.

Commercial aviation - The business of operating aircraft that carry passengers by commercial companies. 

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) - The science of using supercomputers to solve complex mathematical equations that predict how an object like an aircraft responds to the air flowing around it. CFD is a tool of aeronautics that enables engineers to "fly an aircraft in a computer."

Computer - An electronic machine that receives, processes and presents data. A computer can be programmed to perform complicated tasks, like solving complex mathematical equations or controlling a flight simulator.

Control surfaces - Parts of an aircraft that are activated by the controls to change the airflow around the surfaces of the aircraft. The changes in airflow cause the aircraft to roll, pitch, or yaw. Examples of control surfaces are: ailerons, elevators and rudders.

Controls - Devices which allow the pilot to direct the movements of an aircraft. Examples of controls are: rudder pedals that control the rudders and cause the airplane to yaw; throttles that control the engines which generate thrust for the airplane; and the control stick that controls the ailerons and elevators which cause the airplane to roll and pitch.

Data - Information that is collected from an experiment. For example, an engineer in a wind tunnel may collect data about how much lift is created by a certain wing shape.

Decelerate - To slow down. When an airplane comes in to land, it decelerates and rolls to a stop.

Delta wing - A sweepback wing that looks like a triangle from above. The trailing edge of the wing is the base of the triangle. The XB-70A is an example of an airplane that has a delta wing. The XB-70A can fly faster than twice the speed of sound at an altitude of 70,000 feet.

Dihedral angle - The upward angle of the wings that is formed where the wings connect to the fuselage.

Drag - The force that resists the motion of the aircraft through the air. One type of drag is caused by air molecules. As the aircraft flies through the molecules, they resist the motion of the aircraft. This resistance is due to friction between the air molecules and the surface of the aircraft. Airplanes are streamlined to decrease the drag force.

Elevators - Control surfaces on the horizontal part of the tail that are used to make the airplane pitch. Pulling back on the control stick will raise the elevators. This causes the aircraft to pitch and increase the angle of attack.

Empennage - The parts of the airplane located at the tail end. The empennage includes the horizontal stabilizer, the vertical stabilizer, and elevators.

Engine - A machine that uses combustion to create energy. An airplane will normally either have jet engines or engines that drive one or more propellers. In either case, the engines provide the thrust force that pushes the airplane through the air.

Engineer - Someone who designs and builds mechanical or electrical devices. For example, an aeronautical engineer designs and builds aircraft. To do this, an aeronautical engineer must study aeronautics and understand fluid dynamics and aerodynamics.

Experiment - A set of controlled procedures designed to test an idea or hypothesis. For example, a flight simulation engineer will design an experiment to test whether or not a pilot can control an airplane with a new wing design.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) - The FAA is a government agency, under the Department of Transportation, that oversees all aviation within the United States. The FAA controls, for example, airport safety, air traffic control, licensing of pilots, inspection of aircraft, and investigates aviation mishaps.

Fin - Another word for the vertical portion of the tail.

Flaps - Moveable parts of the trailing edge of a wing that are used to increase lift at slower air speeds. Flaps increase lift by changing the shape of the airfoil. A pilot will extend the flaps when the airplane is landing. By extending the flaps, the pilot is increasing the camber of the wing, the size of the wing and the wing's angle of attack. All of these actions will cause lift to decrease so the airplane can land more slowly.

Flight simulation - A tool of aeronautics in which a flight simulator on the ground is used to create an environment where a pilot sees, hears and feels like he or she is in a real aircraft. Flight simulation is used to investigate how an aircraft responds to a pilot's movement of the controls.

Flight test - A tool of aeronautics in which a real aircraft is flown to gather data which will accurately describe the capabilities of that aircraft. Flight tests are used to investigate how fast, how far and how high an aircraft can go, and how it handles and performs.

Fluid dynamics - The study of how fluids move. Fluids include water and gases (such as air).

Force - A push or a pull in a certain direction that can be measured. Examples of forces are your hand pushing on a doorknob, and a propeller pulling an airplane through the air.

Forward sweep wing - A wing that is swept toward the front of the airplane, unlike most fast airplanes which have wings that are swept toward the back of the airplane. The X-29 aircraft is an example of a supersonic jet that has forward sweep wings. The X-29 is capable of going over one and one-half (1 1/2) times the speed of sound.

Fuselage - The part of the airplane to which the empennage and wings are attached. The fuselage is where the passengers and cargo are located. It is streamlined so that it produces the least possible drag.

General aviation - The operation of aircraft that belong to the public.

Gravity - The natural force that pulls an object toward the earth. We experience gravity as weight. An airplane must generate enough lift to counteract the weight of the aircraft.

Horizontal stabilizer - The horizontal part of the tail. The horizontal stabilizer helps to increase the stability of the aircraft. It is also known as a tailplane.

Hypersonic - Velocity greater than five times the speed of sound. The Hyper-X is a reusable launch vehicle that will fly into space and return. It will fly at hypersonic speeds as it re-enters the atmosphere.

Hypothesis - A prediction which needs to be tested to tell if it is correct. An engineer can offer the hypothesis that a particular wing shape will not create enough lift to enable an airplane to fly. His or her hypothesis must then be tested using one or more of the tools of aeronautics to determine if it is correct.

Instruments - Tools used to observe, measure and control . For example, pilots use instruments to measure and observe the altitude, speed and direction of an aircraft.

Jet engine - An engine that works by creating a high-velocity jet of air to propel the engine forward.

Landing gear - Another word for undercarriage. The landing gear is often retractable - it can be pulled into the fuselage of the aircraft to reduce drag.

Lateral axis - The axis extending through the center of gravity of an aircraft, and parallel to a line connecting the tips of the wings. The lateral axis is sometimes called the "y" axis. Pitch is a motion around the lateral axis.

Leading edge - The front edge of an airfoil. The leading edge is normally rounded and thicker than the trailing edge.

Lift - A force that is perpendicular to the airflow around an aircraft. In normal, forward flight, the lift force "lifts" the aircraft into the air. Engineers design airplanes so that the lift created by the wings opposes the weight force.

Longitudinal axis - The axis extending through the center of the fuselage from the nose to the tail. The longitudinal axis is sometimes called the "x" axis. Roll is a motion around the longitudinal axis.

Model - A copy of an object that is often times smaller than the original. Wind tunnel engineers create a model of an aircraft to put in a wind tunnel. The model is a precise replica of the outside of an aircraft.

Molecule - The absolute tiniest part of something that can still be called by that name. For example, two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom make up one molecule of water.

Monoplane - An airplane with one set of wings. Most aircraft built today have only one set of wings and are classified as monoplanes.

National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) - NACA was a government agency that was started in 1917. NACA guided research in aeronautics until 1958 when its name was changed to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) - In 1958, NASA was created as a government agency to replace NACA. NASA's charter is to expand frontiers in air and space, to inspire and serve America, and to benefit the quality of life on Earth.

Opposing forces - Forces that are pushing or pulling in the opposite direction. For example, lift is perpendicular to the airflow around an aircraft. If the aircraft is flying straight and level, the lift force (which is pulling up) will be opposing the weight force (which is pulling the aircraft toward the earth).

Payload - The load carried by an aircraft that includes passengers and cargo.

Pilot - A person who flies an aircraft.

Pitch - A rotational motion in which an airplane turns around its lateral axis. Pushing forward on the control stick will lower the elevators, which forces the tail upward. The pilot will then see the nose of the aircraft fall or pitch.

Pressure - A force being exerted on part of a surface. When you stand, your feet put pressure on the ground. Air pressure refers to air molecules pressing against a surface like the bottom of a wing.

Propeller - A device that consists of blades (shaped like airfoils) that spin around a central hub, like a fan. An engine causes the blades to turn. When the blades turn, they create thrust by biting into the air and forcing it to move back. The amount of thrust can be controlled by changing the speed of the propellers.

Pull - To use force to bring something closer. The force of gravity pulls objects closer to the Earth.

Push - To use force to move something ahead or to the side. During takeoff the thrust force, created by the engines, pushes an airplane down the runway.

Reconnaissance - In aviation, to fly over and look closely at an area below to gather information about it.

Research - A carefully planned and performed investigation, searching for previously unknown facts.

Regimes of flight - A way of placing aircraft into different categories based on their speeds. The regimes of flight are subsonic, transonic, supersonic and hypersonic.

Roll - A rotational motion in which the aircraft turns around its longitudinal axis. Pushing the control stick to the left will raise the aileron on the left wing and lower the aileron on the right wing. This will cause the airplane to roll to the left. The pilot will see the left wing tip fall and the right wing tip rise.

Rotational motion - The turning of an object, like an airplane, around an axis, or a propeller around a hub. Pitch, roll and yaw are the rotational motions of an airplane around the lateral, longitudinal and vertical axes.

Rudder - A control surface on the trailing edge of the vertical part of the tail that is used to make the aircraft yaw. The rudder is controlled by rudder pedals. Pushing the left rudder pedal will tilt the rudder to the left. This will cause the nose of the aircraft to turn to the left.

Simulator - A device that creates an environment that is as close as possible to reality. In flight simulators, engineers create a cockpit environment identical to the one in a real airplane. In a flight simulator a pilot will see, hear and feel like he or she is in a real aircraft.

Skids - a sled-like runner used as part of the landing gear for an aircraft.

Speed of sound - The speed at which sound waves travel. If you stand a distance away from a friend and say something to him, the sound waves of your voice will travel very quickly to the ear of your friend. The speed of sound is the speed at which those waves traveled.

Spoiler - A device, normally located on the top of the wing, for changing the airflow around a wing to reduce lift. Pilots deploy spoilers when they land so that the airplane is no longer "lifted" into the air.

Stability - The condition of being steady. A motion of an aircraft is said to have stability, or be stable, if the aircraft will return to that motion after a disturbance, without the pilot having to move the controls.

Stabilizer - A surface that helps to provide stability for an aircraft. An airplane has two stabilizers: a vertical stabilizer and a horizontal stabilizer. Stabilizers are like the feathers on an arrow, which keep the arrow pointed in the right direction.

Stall - A breakdown of the airflow over a wing, which suddenly reduces lift. When an airplane stalls it will usually drop suddenly. Pilots know how to recover from a stall and smooth out the airflow over the wings to produce more lift again.

Straight wing - A wing that sticks straight out from the fuselage - it does not slant to the front or the rear. The ER-2 is an example of an aircraft that has straight wings.

Streamline - To shape an object so that it creates less drag and moves smoothly and easily through the air. Airfoils are streamlined, as is the fuselage.

Subsonic - Velocity less than the speed of sound. The MD-11 is a subsonic aircraft because it never flies above the speed of sound.

Supercomputer - A computer that is especially designed to receive, process and present very large amounts of data very quickly. The Cray Y-MP is an example of a supercomputer that is resident at NASA Ames Research Center and is used for CFD.

Supersonic - Velocity greater than the speed of sound. The SR-71 is characterized as a supersonic aircraft because it travels from three to four times the speed of sound. A supersonic aircraft can fly from New York to London in less than two hours.

Sweepback wing - A wing that is slanted toward the rear of the airplane. The F-18 aircraft is an example of a supersonic jet that has sweepback wings.

Tailplane - Another word for a horizontal stabilizer.

Takeoff - The process of using the thrust of the engines to accelerate an airplane down a runway until enough lift is generated so that the aircraft begins to fly.

Test pilot - A pilot that is specially trained to test aircraft. Test pilots must be exceptional pilots, have a complete understanding of aeronautics and aerodynamics, and be able to accurately write and speak about what they see, feel and hear during the testing of an aircraft.

Thrust - A force created by the engines that pushes an aircraft through the air.

Tool - A device or process that is used to do some kind of work. A hand-held calculator is a tool for doing mathematics accurately and quickly. The tools of aeronautics (CFD, Wind Tunnel Testing, Flight Simulation and Flight Test) are processes that use special devices to perform research in aeronautics.

Trailing edge - The rear edge of an airfoil. The trailing edge is normally thin and sharp. The ailerons are normally located on the trailing edge of the wing.

Translational motion - Motion along a straight line, such as an axis. The translational motions of an aircraft are forward and back along the longitudinal axis, side to side along the lateral axis, and up and down along the vertical axis.

Transonic - Velocity between nine tenths (.9) and one and four tenths (1.4) times the speed of sound. The X-1 was the first aircraft to fly faster than the speed of sound. Several versions of the X-1 were built. One succeeded at flying twice the speed of sound at an altitude of 90,000 feet.

Turbulence - Air flow which is not smooth and steady. When an airplane flies through turbulent air, it can unexpectedly rise, drop, roll, pitch or yaw very abruptly.

Undercarriage - The part of an aircraft that provides support while the aircraft is on the ground. It includes wheels, shock absorbers and support struts. There is an undercarriage unit under the nose of the aircraft as well as approximately midway back, under the fuselage. Undercarriage normally includes rubber tires, but may have skis for landing on snow or floats for landing on water.

Variable sweep wing - Wings that are hinged so they can be slanted forward or backward during flight. The F-14 aircraft is an example of a supersonic jet with variable sweep wings.

Velocity - The speed of an object, in a certain direction.

Vertical axis - The axis extending straight up and down through the center of gravity of an aircraft. The vertical axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal and lateral axes. The vertical axis is sometimes called the "z" axis. Yaw is a motion around the vertical axis.

Vertical stabilizer - The vertical part of the tail. The vertical stabilizer helps to increase the stability of the aircraft. It is also known as a fin.

Weight - The force of gravity acting on an object. The weight force pulls an aircraft toward the Earth and must be overcome by a combination of lift and thrust.

Wind tunnel testing - A tool of aeronautics that involves placing a model of an aircraft or part of an aircraft into a wind tunnel and using instruments to gather data while air is blown past the model. Wind tunnel testing is used to investigate and accurately describe the effects of airflow on an aircraft or part of an aircraft.

Wind tunnel - A wind tunnel is a tube or cylinder in which a model of an airplane or part of an airplane is placed. Air is blown past the model so that it experiences the same forces as it would if it were actually flying. The struts that hold the model in place measure these forces.

Wing - A part of an airplane that is attached to the fuselage. Wings are shaped like airfoils and are used to provide lift for the airplane. There are four basic types of wings: straight, sweep, delta and variable sweep.

Wing warping - a mechanism to provide lateral control of the aircraft through flexible wing tips; wires enabled the wing tips to arch so that the ends of the wings were four inches lower than the center (the concept was devised by the Wrights after observing the wing tips of a hawk in flight).

Yaw - A rotational motion in which the aircraft turns around its vertical axis. This causes the aircraft's nose to move to the pilot's right or left. Pushing the right rudder pedal will tilt the rudder to the right. The pilot will see the nose of the aircraft turn to the right.


  A E R O F I L E S



AvSpeak
A Glossary of Aviation
Terms and Abbreviations
Aviation related terms and definitions used in association with civil flight obtained from the Code of Federal Regulations, Federal Aviation Regulations, and many other sources (general abbreviations and those specific to Aerofiles can be found on our Codes page). Cross references are in CAPITAL letters.

ABSOLUTE ALTITUDE - The measureable height of an aircraft above the actual terrain.

ABSOLUTE CEILING - The maximum altitude above sea level at which an aircraft can maintain level flight under Standard Air conditions.

ACCELERATED STALL - Any stall made to occur at other than 1g.

ACCESSORY GROUP - Mechanical and electrical units mounted on an engine necessary for its operation, such as starter, magnetos, fuel pumps, etc.

ADCOCK RANGE - National low-frequency radio navigation system (c.1930-c.1950) replaced by an omnirange (VOR) system. It consisted of four segmented quadrants broadcasting Morse Code "A" (dot-dash) and "N" (dash-dot) signals in opposing quadrants so that pilots could orient their position relative to a "beam" broadcasting a steady tone, and a Morse Code station identifier. Using a "build-and-fade" technique, a pilot could (ideally) pinpoint his location by the strength or weakness of a signal. Read about it here.

ADF - Automatic Direction Finding via automated radio.

ADIABATIC LAPSE RATE - The rate at which ascending air cools and descending air warms, given that no heat is added or taken away. The rate for dry air (DALR) is based on 5.4° F per 1000' altitude (1° per 100 meters). Moist or saturated rates (SALR) vary with barometric pressures and temperatures and must be adjusted for accuracy.

ADVERSE YAW - Yaw generated when the ailerons are used. The lifting wing generates more drag, causing an airplane to yaw (turn) toward it.

AGL - Above Ground Level, as a measurement of altitude above a specific land mass, and differentiated from MSL.



AILERON - The movable areas of a wingform that control or affect the roll of an aircraft by working opposite one another—up-aileron on the right wing and down-aileron on the left wing. French: aileron small wing, diminutive of aile, from Latin: ala, wing. The word "aisle" also derives from the same root. (Above pic proves that birds invented ailerons long before man did.)

AIR DEFENSE IDENTIFICATION ZONE (ADIZ) - The area of airspace over land or water, extending upward from the surface, within which the ready identification, the location, and the control of aircraft are required in the interest of national security.
    Domestic Air Defense Identification Zone - An ADIZ within the United States along an international boundary of the United States.

    Coastal Air Defense Identification Zone - An ADIZ over the coastal waters of the United States.

    Distant Early Warning Identification Zone (DEWIZ) - An ADIZ over the coastal waters of the State of Alaska. ADIZ locations and operating and flight plan requirements for civil aircraft operations are specified in FAR Part 99.

AIRFOIL - The shape of any flying surface, but principally a wing, as seen in side-view ("cross-section"). Its characteristics are Center of Pressure (CP), DRAG (CD), LIFT (CL), Lift-Drag Ratio (L/D), and Moment (CM).

AIR ROUTE TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER (ARTCC) or "CENTER" - A facility established to provide air traffic control service to aircraft operating on IFR flight plans within controlled airspace and principally during the en route phase of flight. When equipment capabilities and controller workload permit, certain advisory/assistance services may be provided to VFR aircraft.

AIR SPEED INDICATOR - An instrument or device that measures the air speed of an aircraft through an air mass, but not its ground speed.

AIR TAXI - An aircraft operator who conducts operations for hire or compensation in accordance with FAR Part 135 in an aircraft with 30 or fewer passenger seats and a payload capacity of 7,500# or less. An air taxi operates on an on-demand basis and does not meet the "flight scheduled" qualifications of a commuter.

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC) - A service operated by the appropriate authority to promote the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic.

AIRPORT TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER (ATCT) - A terminal facility that uses air/ground communications, visual signaling, and other devices to provide ATC services to aircraft operating in the vicinity of an airport or on the movement area. Authorizes aircraft to land or takeoff at the airport controlled by the tower or to transit the Class D airspace area regardless of flight plan or weather conditions (IFR or VFR). A tower may also provide approach control services (radar or non-radar).

ALCLAD - Trademark name of Alcoa for high-strength sheet aluminum clad with a layer (approximately 5.5% thickness per side) of high-purity aluminum, popularly used in airplane manufacture.

ALPHABET (PHONETIC) - Devised for reasons of clarity in aviation voice radio, this is the current NATO version in global use:
    ALFA    BRAVO    CHARLEY    DELTA    ECHO    FOXTROT    GOLF 
    HOTEL    INDIA    JULIET    KILO    LIMA    MIKE    NOVEMBER 
    OSCAR    PAPA    QUEBEC    ROMEO    SIERRA    TANGO 
    UNIFORM    VICTOR    WHISKY    X-RAY    YANKEE    ZULU

    The original, from early in World War 2, was:

    ABLE    BAKER    CHARLEY    DOG    EASY    FOX    GEORGE 
    HOW    ITEM    JIG    KING    LOVE    MIKE    NAN    OBOE 
    PETER    QUEEN    ROGER    SUGAR    TARE    UNCLE    VICTOR 
    WILLIAM    X-RAY    YOKE    ZEBRA

ALTIMETER - An adjustable aneroid-barometric cockpit instrument used to measure an aircraft's altitude.

AMPHIBIAN, AMPHIBION - A SEAPLANE or FLOATPLANE with retractable wheels for use on land, as well. The latter spelling was used in the '20s and '30s but has since fallen out of favor.

ANGLE OF ATTACK - The acute angle at which a moving airfoil meets the airstream.

ANGLE OF INCIDENCE - The angle at which an airfoil is normally fixed in relation to the longitudinal axis of an aircraft.

ANHEDRAL - The downward angle of a wing in relation to a horizontal cross-section line; aka CATHEDRAL. See DIHEDRAL.

APPROACH CONTROL  see  RADIO NAVIGATION

APRON - The hard-surfaced or paved area around a hangar.

ARM - In aircraft weight and balance, as well as load distribution, it is the distance from the CENTER OF GRAVITY (c/g) to some point. For computations, arms measured forward from the c/g are positive (+n) and those measured aft of the c/g are negtive (-n).

ARSA  see  CONTROLLED AIRSPACE

ARTIFICIAL HORIZON - A vacuum-powered panel instrument that displays pitch and roll movements about the lateral and longitudinal axes; aka Attitude Indicator.

ASPECT RATIO - The ratio of the span to the chord of an airfoil—a high-aspect ratio wing has wide span and narrow chord, and vice-versa for a low-aspect ratio wing.

ATA  see  CONTROLLED AIRSPACE

ATC - (1) Aircraft license as Approved Type Certificate, see ATC; (2) AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL.

ATIS  see  AUTOMATIC TERMINAL INFORMATION SERVICE

AUTOGYRO, AUTOGIRO - An aircraft, often wingless, with unpowered rotary airfoil blades that auto-rotate and serve as wings as they move through the air when mounted on a powered aircraft (or, in some cases, a glider). The latter spelling is a trademark of the Autogiro Corporation.

AUTO-ROTATION - Automatic rotation of rotary blades from a helicopter in an unpowered glide or the forward movement of an autogyro.

AUTOMATIC TERMINAL INFORMATION SERVICE (ATIS) - Continuous broadcast of recorded non-control information in selected terminal areas, to improve controller effectiveness and to relieve frequency congestion by automating repetitive transmissions of essential but routine information.

BALANCED CONTROL SURFACE - A movable control surface, as an aileron or rudder, having an added physical extension or weights forward of the hinge-point to reduce forces on a joystick or yoke. See ELEPHANT EARS (2).

BERNOULLI EFFECT or LAW or THEOREM - Since the pressure of a fluid is proportional to its velocity, airflow over the upper surface of an airfoil causes suction [lift] because the airstream has been speeded up in relation to positive pressure of the airflow on the lower surface.

BLEED AIR - Hot air at high pressure, usually from the bypass section of a gas turbine engine, for de-icing, heating, and other uses.

BOUNDARY-LAYER CONTROL - The design or control of slotted or perforated wings with suction methods to reduce undesirable aerodynamic effects caused by the boundary layer—that region adjacent to the boundary where shear stresses dominate in the airflow over a wingform.

BUMPED COWLING - An engine FAIRING, generally circular, with welts or compound shapes in its surface to accommodate cylinder heads.

CABANE STRUT - Wing strut attached to the fuselage.

CALIBRATED AIRSPEED (CAS) - The indicated airspeed of an aircraft, corrected for position and instrument error. CAS is equal to true airspeed in standard atmosphere at sea level. Compare INDICATED AIRSPEED and TRUE AIRSPEED.

CAMBER - The convex or concave curvature of an airfoil.

CANARD - An arrangement in which the horizontal stabilizer and elevators of an aircraft are mounted in front of the main wing(s).

CAT - Clear-Air Turbulence.

CATHEDRAL  see  ANHEDRAL

CAVU - Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited; ideal flying weather.

CEILING - (1) The heights above the earth's surface of the lowest layer of clouds or obscuring phenomena that is reported as "broken," "overcast," or "obscuration," and not classified as "thin" or "partial". (2) The maximum height above sea level in STANDARD AIR attainable by an aircraft under given conditions—see ABSOLUTE CEILING, SERVICE CEILING.

CENTER - An Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC).

CENTER OF GRAVITY (c/g) - The longitudinal and lateral point in an aircraft where it is stable; the static balance point.

CERTIFICATED AIRPORT - An airport operating under FAR Part 139. The FAA issues airport operating certificates to all airports serving scheduled or unscheduled air carrier aircraft designed for more than 30 passenger seats. Certificated airports must meet minimum safety standards in accordance with FAR Part 139.

CHORD - The measurable distance between the leading and trailing edges of a wingform.

CLASS G AIRSPACE (Uncontrolled Airspace) - Airspace not designated as Class A, B, C, D or E CONTROLLED AIRSPACE.

COAMING - A padded, protective rim around an open cockpit.

COLLECTIVE PITCH - A cockpit control that changes the PITCH of a helicopter's rotor blades; used in climbing or descending.

COLLECTOR RING - A circular duct on a radial engine into which exhaust gases from its cylinders are safely discharged.

COMMON TRAFFIC ADVISORY FREQUENCY (CTAF) - A frequency designed for the purpose of carrying out airport advisory practices while operating to or from an airport without an operating control tower. The CTAF may be a UNICOM, Multicom, FSS, or tower frequency and is identified in appropriate aeronautical publications.

COMMUTER - An air carrier operator operating under 14 CFR 135 that carries passengers on at least five round trips per week on at least one route between two or more points according to its published flight schedules that specify the times, day of the week, and places between which these flights are performed. The aircraft that a commuter operates has 30 or fewer passenger seats and a payload capability of 7,500# or less.

COMPASS COURSE - A bearing as indicated by the horizontal angle between the compass needle and the centerline of the aircraft. A Compass Course is equal to a True Course ± variation and deviation; also equal to a Magnetic Course ± deviation.

COMPASS NORTH - The North point at which a liquid compass needle points, rather than Geographical, or True, North. Compare MAGNETIC NORTH.

CONE OF SILENCE -  Click the Adcock page.

CONSTANT-SPEED PROPELLER - A hydraulically-controlled propeller that governs an engine at its optimum speed by the blade pitch being increased or decreased automatically.

CONTACT FLIGHT - Navigation in which altitude and flight path can be maintained by visual reference to the ground and its landmarks. Similar to VFR.

CONTOUR FLIGHT - Contact Flight in and around mountainous areas following visual reference to the terrain's countours.

CONTRAIL - Trailing streak of condensed water vapor created in the air by heat from an aircraft engine at high altitudes; aka VAPOR TRAIL.

CONTROLLED AIRSPACE - An airspace of defined dimensions within which air traffic control service is provided to IFR flights and to VFR flights in accordance with the airspace classification. Controlled airspace is a generic term that covers Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace. Controlled airspace is also that airspace within which all aircraft operators are subject to certain pilot qualifications, operating rules, and equipment requirements in FAR Part 91. For IFR operations in any class of controlled airspace, a pilot must file an IFR flight plan and receive an appropriate ATC clearance. Each B, C, and D airspace area designated for an airport contains at least one primary airport around which the airspace is designated (for specific designations and descriptions of the airspace classes, refer to FAR Part 71).
    Class A (formerly PCA - Positive Control Area) generally, that airspace from 18,000' mean sea level (MSL) up to and including flight level (FL) 600 (60,000' pressure altitude), including the airspace overlying the waters within 12 nautical miles of the coast of the 48 contiguous States and Alaska. Unless otherwise authorized, all persons must operate their aircraft under IFR.

    Class B (formerly TCA - Terminal Control Area) Generally, that airspace from the surface to 10,000' MSL surrounding the nation's busiest airports in terms of airport operations or passenger enplanements. The configuration of each Class B airspace area is individually tailored and consists of a surface area and two or more layers (some Class B airspace areas resemble upside-down wedding cakes), and is designed to contain all published instrument procedures once an aircraft enters the airspace. An ATC clearance is required for all aircraft to operate in the area, and all aircraft that are so cleared receive separation services within the airspace. The cloud clearance requirement for VFR operations is "clear of clouds."

    Class C (formerly ARSA - Airport Radar Service Area) Generally, that airspace from the surface to 4,000' MSL above the airport elevation surrounding those airports that have an operational control tower, are serviced by a radar approach control, and that have a certain number of IFR operations or passenger enplanements. Although the configuration of each Class C area is individually tailored, the airspace usually consists of a surface area with a 5 nautical mile (nm) radius, an outer circle with a 10 nm radius that extends from 1,200' to 4,000' above the airport elevation and an outer area. Each person must establish two-way radio communications with the ATC facility providing air traffic services prior to entering the airspace and thereafter maintain those communications while within the airspace. VFR aircraft are only separated from IFR aircraft within the airspace.

    Class D (formerly ATA - Airport Traffic Area and CZ - Control Zone) Generally, that airspace from the surface to 2,500' MSL above the airport elevation surrounding those airports that have an operational control tower. The configuration of each Class D airspace area is individually tailored and when instrument procedures are published, the airspace will normally be designed to contain the procedures. Arrival extensions for instrument approach procedures may be Class D or E airspace. Unless otherwise authorized, each person must establish two-way radio communications with the ATC facility providing air traffic services prior to entering the airspace and thereafter maintain those communications while in the airspace. No separation services are provided to VFR aircraft.

    Class E (formerly General Controlled Airspace) Generally, if the airspace is not Class A, B, C, or D, and is controlled airspace, it is Class E airspace. Class E airspace extends upward from either the surface or a designated altitude to the overlying or adjacent controlled airspace. When designated as a surface area, the airspace will be configured to contain all instrument procedures. Also in this class are Federal airways, airspace beginning at either 700' or 1,200' AGL used to transition to/from the terminal or enroute environment, enroute domestic, and offshore airspace areas designated below 18,000' MSL. Unless designated at a lower altitude, Class E airspace begins at 14,500' MSL over the USA, including that airspace overlying the waters within 12 nautical miles of the coast of the 48 contiguous States and Alaska, up to, but not including 18,000' MSL, and the airspace above Flight Level 600.

CONVENTIONAL GEAR - Having two main landing wheels at the front and a tailwheel or tailskid at the rear as opposed to having a tricycle gear with three main wheels. Such an aircraft is popularly called a TAILDRAGGER.

COWL, COWLING - A circular, removable FAIRING around an aircraft engine (generally radial) for the purposes of streamling or cooling; aka RING COWLING.

COWL FLAP - A controllable louvre to regulating airflow through an engine's cowling.

CRAB - A rudder-controlled yawing motion to compensate for a crosswind in maintaining a desired flight path, as in a landing approach.

CTAF  see  COMMON TRAFFIC ADVISORY FREQUENCY

DEAD RECKONING - In pioneer flight before radio, beacons, and accurate maps, flying distances much by instinct and guesswork, and referring to whatever landmarks were below, was quite routine. The "dead" part simply meant "straight," as in the nautical "dead ahead," and pilots often relied heavily on the IRON COMPASS for cross-country flights over unfamiliar territory.

DEADSTICK - Descending flight with engine and propeller stopped.

DECALAGE - The difference in angular settings [Angles of Attack] of the wings of a biplane or multiplane.

DECISION HEIGHT - With respect to the operation of aircraft, the height at which point a decision must be made during an instrument approach to either continue the approach or to execute a missed approach [abort].

DELTA-WING - A triangularly-shaped aircraft wing having a low aspect ratio, a sharply-tapered leading edge, a straight trailing edge, and a pointed tip.

DEPARTURE CONTROL  see  RADIO NAVIGATION

DEPARTURE STALL - A stall in the takeoff configuration with power.

DEVIATION (MAGNETIC) - The error of a Magnetic Compass due to inherent magnetic influences in the structure and equipment of an aircraft.

DEWIZ  see  AIR DEFENSE IDENTIFICATION ZONE

DIHEDRAL - The acute angle, usually upward, between the wing of an airplane and a horizontal cross-section line. Opposite of ANHEDRAL.

DIRECTIONAL GYRO - A panel instrument providing a gyroscopic reading of an aircraft's compass heading.

DIRIGIBLE - A lighter-than-air craft capable of being propelled and steered for controlled flight. Latin: dirigo,to steer.

DME - Distance Measuring Equipment, a radio navigation device that determines an aircraft's distance from a given ground station, as well as its groundspeed and time to/from the station.

DOPE - Preservative and pigmented coloring for fabric aircraft covering and paints, generally nitrate lacquer but generically used to denote all early shellac and coal-tar mixtures on up to present-day acrylics.

DORSAL FIN - A lateral fin/rudder extension on the top of a fuselage. Opposite of VENTRAL FIN.

DOWNWASH - The air deflected perpendicular to the direction of movement of an airfoil.

DRAG - The resisting force exerted on an aircraft in its line of flight opposite in direction to its motion. Compare THRUST.

DRAG WIRE - A wire designed to resist DRAG forces, usually running from a forward inboard point to an outboard aft point.

DRIFT - The angle between the heading of an aircraft and its Track [flight path] over the ground as affected by winds.

DRY WEIGHT - The weight of an engine exclusive of any fuel, oil, and coolant.

DURAL - Originally a tradename for a wrought aluminum-copper alloy created by Bausch Machine Tool Co, now fallen into generic use as any aluminum alloy containing 3.0-4.5% copper, 0.4-1.0% magnesium, and 0.1-0.7% manganese. Alcoa's version is commonly referred to as "Duraluminum," popularly used in aircaft manufacture.

DZUS FASTENER - ("Zoose") Very singular to aircraft, a patented slotted screw that binds to a wire for fast release and securing of cowlings and inspection plates, requiring no special tool other than a quarter coin.

EARTH-INDUCTOR COMPASS - One whose indications depend on the current generated in a coil revolving in the earth's magnetic field.

ELEPHANT EAR - (1) An air intake characterized by twin inlets, one on each side of the fuselage. (2) A type of balanced aileron in which the outer edges are noticeably larger than the control itself. See BALANCED CONTROL SURFACE and example Travel Air 4000.

ELEVATOR - The movable part of a horizontal airfoil which controls the pitch of an aircraft, the fixed part being the STABILIZER.

ELEVON - A hinged device on the rear portion of an aircraft wing combining the functions of an elevator and an aileron. Usually found on delta-wing aircraft, it can be moved in the same direction on either side of the aircraft to obtain longitudinal control, or differentially to obtain lateral control. Also see FLAPERON.

ELT - Emergency Locator Transmitter

EMPENNAGE - An aircraft's tail group, includes rudder and fin, and stabilizer and elevator. Old French: empenner, to feather an arrow, from Latin penna, feather.

EN ROUTE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICES - Air traffic control services provided aircraft on IFR flight plans, generally by centers, when these aircraft are operating between departure and destination terminal areas. When equipment, capabilities, and controller workload permit, certain advisory/assistance services may be provided to VFR aircraft.

ETA - Estimated Time of Arrival.

ETD - Estimated Time of Departure.

FAIRING - An added streamlining structure or auxiliary member, most often of light metal, whose only purpose is to reduce drag. Fairings are not load-bearing and, therefore, are not meant to carry any principal air loads placed on the airplane structure.

FBO - Fixed-Base Operator. A commercial operator supplying fuel, maintenance, flight training, and other services at an airport.

FAN MARKER  see  RADIO NAVIGATION

FEATHERING - In the event of engine failure, the process of adjusting a controllable-pitch propeller to a pitch position where the blade angle is about 90° to the plane of rotation in order to to stop its windmilling and lessen drag.

FEDERAL AIR REGULATION (FAR)
    FAR Part 91  -  General Aviation (portions apply to all operators)

    FAR Part 103 - Ultralight Vehicles

    FAR Part 105 - Parachute Jumping

    FAR Part 108 - Airplane Operator Security

    FAR Part 119 - Certification: Air Carriers and Commercial Operators

    FAR Part 121 - Domestic, Flag, and Supplemental Air Carriers and Commercial Operators of Large Aircraft

    FAR Part 123 - Travel Clubs

    FAR Part 125 - US Civil Airplanes, seating 20 or more passengers or a maximum payload capacity 6,000# or more

    FAR Part 127 - Air Carriers using helicopters for scheduled interstate flights (within the 48 contiguous states)

    FAR Part 129 - Foreign Air Carrier and Foreign Operators of US registered aircraft engaged in common carriage

    FAR Part 133 - Rotorcraft External Load Operations

    FAR Part 135 - Air Taxi Operators and Commercial Operators

    FAR Part 137 - Agricultural Aircraft Operations

    FAR Part 141 - Pilot School

FERRY FLIGHT - A flight for the purpose of (1) returning an aircraft to base; (2) delivering an aircraft from one location to another; (3) moving an aircraft to and from a maintenance base. Ferry flights, under certain conditions, may be conducted under terms in a special flight permit.

FIN - The fixed part of a vertical airfoil that controls the yaw of an aircraft; the movable part being the RUDDER. Sometime referred to as Vertical Stabilizer.

FIREWALL - A fire-resistant bulkhead that isolates the engine from other parts of an airplane's structure.

FISHTAILING - A rudder-controlled side-to-side [yawing] motion to reduce air speed, generally prior to landing.

FIVE-BY-FIVE (5x5) - In radio jargon, affirms that a radioed transmission was received as clear and loud. Rated one to five, with the first figure for clearness and the second second for loudness.

FLAP - A movable, usually hinged AIRFOIL set in the trailing edge of an aircraft wing, designed to increase LIFT or DRAG by changing the CAMBER of the wing or used to slow an aircraft during landing by increasing lift. Also see FOWLER FLAP, SLOTTED FLAP, and SPLIT FLAP.

FLAPERON - A control surface combining the functions of a FLAP and an AILERON.

FLARE - A simple maneuver performed moments before landing in which the nose of an aircraft is pitched up to minimize the touchdown rate of speed.

FLIGHT ENVELOPE - An aircraft's performance limits, specifically the curves of speed plotted against other variables to indicate the limits of speed, altitude, and acceleration that a particular aircraft cannot safely exceed.

FLIGHT LEVEL (FL) - A level of constant atmospheric pressure related to a reference datum of 29.92 inches of mercury. Each is stated in three digits that represent hundreds of feet—flight level 250 represents a barometric altimeter indication of 25,000', flight level 255 as 25,500'.

FLIGHT PLAN - Specified information relating to the intended flight of an aircraft, filed orally or in writing with an FSS or an ATC facility.

FLIGHT SERVICE STATION (FSS) - Air traffic facilities which provide pilot briefing, enroute communications and VFR search and rescue services, assist lost aircraft and aircraft in emergency situations, relay ATC clearances, originate Notices to Airmen, broadcast aviation weather and NAS information, receive and process IFR flight plans, and monitor NAVAIDs. In addition, at selected locations, FSSs provide Enroute Flight Advisory Service (Flight Watch), take weather observations, issue airport advisories, and advise Customs and Immigration of transborder flights.

FLOATPLANE - A water-based aircraft with one or more mounted pontoons, as differentiated from a hulled SEAPLANE [Flying Boat], but often used generically.

FLYING WIRES - Interplane bracing wires that help support wingloads when the plane is in flight. Direction of travel is upward and outward from the fuselage to the interplane struts. Also known as LIFT WIRES, the opposite of LANDING WIRES.

FOWLER FLAP - Trademark name of a split-flap attached to a wing's trailing edge with a system of tracks and rollers to roll the FLAP backward and downward, increasing the wing area. Named for its inventor, USAAF engineer Harland D Fowler.

FRISE AILERON - A type of aileron that has a beveled leading edge projecting beyond its inset hinges. When lowered, it forms an extension of the wing surface; when raised, its nose protrudes below the wing, increasing DRAG and reducing YAW. Named for its inventor, British engineer Leslie George Frise.

FSS  see  FLIGHT SERVICE STATION

FUSELAGE - An aircraft's main body structure housing the flight crew, passengers, and cargo and to which the wings, tail and, in most single-engined airplanes, engine are attached. French: fuselé, tapering.

g or G  see  LOAD FACTOR

GAP - The distance between two adjacent wings of a biplane or multiplane.

GCA - Ground-Controlled Approach; part of ILS.

GENERAL AVIATION - That portion of civil aviation which encompasses all facets of aviation except air carriers holding a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the Civil Aeronautics Board and large aircraft commercial operators.

GEOGRAPHIC NORTH - The northern axis around which the Earth revolves; aka "Map North" and TRUE NORTH. Also see MAGNETIC NORTH.

GLASS COCKPIT - Said of an aircraft's control cabin which has all-electronic, digital and computer-based, instrumentation.

GLIDER - An unpowered aircraft capable of maintaining altitude only briefly after release from tow, then gliding to earth. Compare SAILPLANE.

GLIDE SLOPE - (1) The angle between horizontal and the glide path of an aircraft. (2) A tightly-focused radio beam transmitted from the approach end of a runway indicating the minimum approach angle that will clear all obstacles; one component of an instrument landing system (ILS).

GPS - Global Positioning System; satellite-based navigation.

GREEN LIGHT - Approval for landing. A carryover expression from days when aircraft for the most part had no radios, and communication from a control tower was by means of a light-gun that beamed various green, red, and yellow signals to pilots in the air and on the ground. A popular phrase, "3 green lights," refers to the instrument panel lights verifying that all three gears (in a tri-gear aircraft) are down and locked for safe landing.

GROSS WEIGHT - The total weight of an aircraft when fully loaded, including fuel, cargo, and passengers; aka Takeoff Weight.

GROUND CONTROL - Tower control, by radioed instructions from air traffic control, of aircraft ground movements at an airport.

GROUND CUSHION  see  GROUND EFFECT

GROUND EFFECT - Increased lift generated by the interaction between a lift system and the ground when an aircraft is within a wingspan distance above the ground. It affects a low-winged aircraft more than a mid- or high-winged aircraft because its wings are closer to the ground; aka GROUND CUSHION.

GROUNDSPEED - The actual speed that an aircraft travels over the ground—its "shadow speed"; it combines the aircraft's AIRSPEED and the wind's speed relative to the aircraft's direction of flight.

GULL-WING - Descriptive of wing in frontal view bent as the wing of a seagull; a distinctive shallow, inverted "V" shape—see Stinson SR-10 or inverted gull-wing Vought F4U.

GYROPLANE - A rotorcraft whose rotors are not engine-driven, except for initial starting, but are made to rotate by action of the air when the rotorcraft is moving and whose means of propulsion, usually a conventional propeller, is independent of the rotor system. Similar to AUTOGYRO.

HANGAR - An enclosed structure for housing aircraft. Originated with lake-based floating homes of the original German Zeppelins in which they were "hung" from cables, which explains the erroneous, oft-seen spelling of "hanger." French: hangar, shed, outbuilding, from Latin: angarium, shed.

HELICOPTER - A wingless aircraft acquiring its lift from revolving blades driven by an engine about a near-vertical axis. A ROTORCRAFT acquiring its primary motion from engine-driven rotors that accelerate the air downward, providing a reactive lift force, or accelerate the air at an angle to the vertical, providing lift and thrust.

HIGH BLOWER - A blower-type supercharger set at high rpm.

HIGH-SPEED STALL - Any stall made to occur at more than 1g, such as pulling out of a dive or while turning.

HORSEPOWER - The motive energy required to raise 550# one foot in one second, friction disregarded.

HYPERSONIC - Speed of flight at or greater than Mach 5.0, exceeding SUPERSONIC.

HYPOXIA - Deprivation of oxygen, aka "altitude sickness," which can adversely affect human judgment and movement at altitudes above 12,000' with symptoms ranging from light dizziness to unconsciousness, even death at the extreme. It was a principal reason for pressurized aircraft.

IFR - Instrument Flight Rules, governing flight under instrument meteorological conditions.

ILS - Instrument Landing System. A radar-based system allowing ILS-equipped aircraft to find a runway and land when clouds may be as low as 200' (or lower for special circumstances).

INDICATED AIRSPEED (IAS) - A direct instrument reading obtained from an air speed indicator uncorrected for altitude, temperature, atmospheric density, or instrument error. Compare CALIBRATED AIRSPEED and TRUE AIRSPEED.

INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) - Meteorological conditions expressed in terms of visibility, distance from clouds, and ceiling less than minima specified for visual meteorological conditions (VMC).

IRON COMPASS - Railroad tracks, favored by pilots of yore as a dependable aid to surface navigation before radio.

JOYSTICK - A single floor- or roof-mounted control stick—sideways movement produces ROLL, and forward/backward movement produces PITCH (rudder pedals produce YAW).

KNOT - One nautical mile, about 1.15 statute miles (6,080'); eg: 125kts = 143.9mph.

LAMINAR-FLOW AIRFOIL - A low-drag airfoil designed to maintain laminar (smooth, continuous) flow over a high percentage of the CHORD about itself. Often relatively thin, especially along the leading edge, with most of its bulk near the center of the chord.

LANDING WIRES - Interplane bracing wires that help support wingloads when the plane is on the ground. Direction of travel is downward and outward from the fuselage. Opposite of FLYING WIRES.

LIFT - The force exerted on the top of a moving airfoil as a low-pressure area [vacuum] that causes a wingform to rise. AIRFOILs do not "float" on air, as is often assumed—like a boat hull floats on water—but are "pulled up" [lifted] by low air pressures trying to equalize.

LIFT-DRAG RATIO - The lift coefficient of a wing divided by the drag coefficient, as the primary measure of the efficiency of an aircraft; aka L/D Ratio.

LIFT WIRES - Interplane bracing wires that help support wingloads when the plane is in flight. Direction of travel is upward from the bottom of the fuselage to the top of the interplane struts. Also known as FLYING WIRES, the opposite of LANDING WIRES.

LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT - Special FAA certification class (LSA) for an aircraft other than a helicopter or powered-lift—single-engine aircraft, airship, balloon, GLIDER, GYROCOPTER, ROTORCRAFT, weight-shift-control aircraft. While limiting the types of aircraft that could be flown by a Sport Pilot, it simplified requirements for a obtaining a pilot license and did not require a medical examination. See LSA feature.

LIQUID COMPASS - A non-electronic, calibratable compass floating in a liquid as a panel instrument; aka WET COMPASS.

LOAD FACTOR (g) - The proportion between lift and weight commonly seen as g (sometimes capitalized)—a unit of force equal to the force of gravity times one.

LOFTING - Design or fabrication of a complex aircraft component, as with sheet metal, using actual-size patterns or plans, generally laid out on a floor. The term was borrowed from boat builders.

LONGERON - A principal longitudinal member of a fuselage's framing, usually continuous across a number of supporting points.

LOOP ANTENNA - A circular radio antenna, either in the open or in a streamlined, teardrop housing, remotely turned 360° to fine-tune a station in league with other radio-directive devices. See also RADIO COMPASS, RADIO DIRECTION FINDER.

LORAN - Long Range Navigation system, which utilizes timing differences between multiple low-frequency transmissions to provide accurate latitude/longitude position information to within 50'.

LTA - Lighter-than-air craft, generally referring to powered blimps and dirigibles, but often also includes free balloons.

LUNKENHEIMER VALVE - A manual fuel drain placed handily along a fuel line for checking avgas, such as for water or sediment contaminations.

Mach or m. - A number representing the ratio of the speed of an object to the speed of sound in the surrounding air or medium in which it is moving.

MAGNETIC COMPASS - The most common liquid-type compass, capable of calibration to compensate for magnetic influences within the aircraft.

MAGNETIC COURSE - COMPASS COURSE ± deviation.

MAGNETIC NORTH - The magnetic North pole, located near 71° North latitude and 96° West longitude, that attracts a magnetic compass which is not influenced by local magnetic attraction, as opposed to GEOGRAPHIC NORTH.

MAGNETO, MAG - An accessory that produces and distributes a high-voltage electric current for ignition of a fuel charge in an internal combustion engine.

MAGNUS EFFECT - The effect on a spinning cylinder or sphere moving through a fluid, in which force acts perpendicular to the direction of motion and to the direction of spin. This is used to advantage in baseball, in which the trajectory of a pitched ball is a distinct curve. Applied to aeronautics in experimental wingforms, the Magnus Theory states that if air is directed against a smooth, revolving cylinder, whose circumferential speed is greater than that of the air current, a force is directed against one side of the cylinder—air compressed on one side and vacuum formed on the other—creating lift. Named for physicist Heinrich Gustav Magnus (1802-70).

MARKER BEACON  see  RADIO NAVIGATION

MEAN SEA LEVEL  see  MSL

METAR - Acronym in FAA pilot briefings and weather reports simply means an "aviation routine weather report," but nobody seems certain about the original source. The format was introduced by the French on 1 Jan 1968, but was not adopted by USA and Canada until 1 July 1996, and is thought to be a contraction from MÉTéorologique ("Weather") Aviation Règuliére ("Routine"). FAA and NOAA specifically define METAR as "an approximate translation from the French."

MOA  see  SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE

MONOCOQUE - Type of fuselage design with little or no internal bracing other than bulkheads, where the outer skin bears the main stresses; usually round or oval in cross-section. Additional classifications are (1) Semi-Monocoque, where the skin is reinforced by longerons or bulkheads, but with no diagonal web members, and (2) Reinforced Shell, in which the skin is supported by a complete framework or structural members. French: monocoque, single shell.

MSL - Mean Sea Level. The average height of the surface of the sea for all stages of tide; used as a reference for elevations, and differentiated from AGL.

NACELLE - A streamlined enclosure or housing to protect something such as the crew, engine, or landing gear. French: nacelle, from Latin, navicella, little ship.

NATIONAL AIRSPACE SYSTEM (NAS) - The common network of US airspace; air navigation facilities, equipment and services, airports or landing areas; aeronautical charts, information and services; rules, regulations and procedures, technical information, and human resources and material. Included are system components shared jointly with the military.

NDB - Non-Directional Beacon. An LF, MF, or UHF radio beacon transmitting non-directional signals whereby the pilot of an aircraft equipped with direction finding equipment can determine his bearing to or from the radio beacon and "home" on or track to or from the station. When the radio beacon is installed in conjuncion with the Instrument Landing System (ILS) marker, it is normally called a Compass Locator.

ON THE BEAM - A leftover phrase from ADCOCK Radio Range days still means the same thing today—"You are headed in the right direction," as when you you hear a steady broadcast tone beamed from your target radio transmitter. Also as RIDING THE BEAM. Read about it here.

OVERSHOOT - To land beyond a runwway or planned spot. Opposite of UNDERSHOOT.

PANTS - A popular word for streamlined, non-load bearing fairings to cover landing wheels. Also sometimes called Spats or, when fully enclosing the wheel struts, Skirts.

PAR - Precision Approach Radar, a ground-radar-based instrument approach providing both horizontal and vertical guidance

PATTERN - The path of aircraft traffic around an airfield, at an established height and direction. At tower-controlled fields the pattern is supervised by radio (or, in non-radio or emergency conditions by red and green light signals) by air traffic controllers.

PAYLOAD - Anything that an aircraft carries beyond what is required for its operation during flight, theoretically that from which revenue is derived, such as cargo and passengers.

PCA  see  CONTROLLED AIRSPACE

PHONETICS  see  ALPHABET

PILOT IN COMMAND (PiC) - The pilot responsible for the operation and safety of an aircraft during flight time.

PITCH - (1) Of the three axes in flight, this specifies the vertical action, the up-and-down movement. Compare ROLL and YAW. (2) The angle of a propeller or rotor blade in relation to its arc; also the distance advanced by a blade in one full rotation.

PITOT TUBE - More accurately but less popularly used, Pitot-Static Tube, a small tube most often mounted on the outward leading edge of an airplane wing (out of the propeller stream) that measures the impact pressure of the air it meets in flight, working in conjuction with a closed, perforated, coaxial tube that measures the static pressure. The difference in pressures is calibrated as air speed by a panel instrument. Named for French scientist Henri Pitot (1695-1771).

POSITIVE CONTROL - The separation of all air traffic within designated airspace by air traffic control.

POWER LOADING - The GROSS WEIGHT of an airplane divided by the rated horsepower, computed for Standard Air density.

PUSHER - A propeller mounted in back of its engine, pushing an aircraft through the air, as opposed to a TRACTOR configuration.

QUADRAPLANE, QUADRUPLANE - An aircraft having four or more wingforms.

RADAR APPROACH CONTROL FACILITY (RAPCON) - A terminal ATC facility that uses radar and non-radar capabilities to provide approach control services to aircraft arriving, departing, or transiting airspace controlled by the facility. This facility provides radar ATC services to aircraft operating in the vicinity of one or more civil/military airports in a terminal area. The facility may provide services of a ground-controlled approach (GCA). A radar approach control facility may be operated by FAA or a military service, or jointly. Specific facility nomenclatures are used for administrative purposes only and are related to the physical location of the facility and the operating service generally:

    Army Radar Approach Control (ARAC) (Army)

    Radar Air Traffic Control Facility (RATCF) (Navy/FAA)

    Radar Approach Control (RAPCON) (Air Force/FAA)

    Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) (FAA)

    Tower/Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) (FAA ­ only towers delegated approach control authority)

RAMJET - An aerodynamic duct in which fuel is burned to produce a high-velocity propulsive jet. It needs to be accelerated to high speed before it can become operative.

RIDING THE BEAM  see  ON THE BEAM.

RING COWLING - A circular engine FAIRING.

ROGALLO WING - A flexible, delta-wing plan in which three rigid members are shaped in the form of an arrowhead and joined by a flexible fabric, which inflates upward under flight loads. Originally specific to paragliders, but now found on some powered aircraft.

ROLL - Of the three axes in flight, this specifies the action around a central point. Compare PITCH and YAW.

ROTARY ENGINE - A powerplant that rotates on a stationary propeller shaft. An American invention by Adams-Farwell Co (1896), it was first used for buses and trucks in the US (1903), then copied by French engineers for early aircraft engines (1914).

ROTORCRAFT - A heavier-than-air aircraft that depends principally for its support in flight on the lift generated by one or more rotors. Includes helicopters and gyroplanes.

RUDDER - The movable part of a vertical airfoil which controls the YAW of an aircraft; the fixed part being the FIN.

SAILPLANE - An unpowered, soaring aircraft capable of maintaining level flight for long periods of time after release from tow and of gaining altitude using wind currents, as opposed to a GLIDER.

SCRAMJET - Acronym for supersonic combustion ramjet, in which combustion occurs at supersonic air velocities through the engine.

SCUD - A low, foglike cloud layer.

SEAPLANE - A water-based aircraft with a boat-hull fuselage, often amphibious.The term is also used generically to define a similar Flying Boat and a pontoon FLOATPLANE.

SECONDARY STALL - Any stall resulting from pulling back too soon and too hard while recovering from any other stall. Usually a HIGH-SPEED or ACCELERATED STALL.

SERVICE CEILING - The height above sea level at which an aircraft with normal rated load is unable to climb faster than 100' per minute under Standard Air conditions.

SESQUI-WING - A lesser-span additional wingform, generally placed below the main planes of an aircraft, generally a biplane.

SHOULDER-WING - A mid-wing monoplane with its wing mounted directly to the top of the fuselage without use of CABANE STRUTs.

SIDESLIP - A movement of an aircraft in which a relative flow of air moves along the lateral axis, resulting in a sideways movement from a projected flight path, especially a downward slip toward the inside of a banked turn.

SINK, SINKING SPEED - The speed at which an aircraft loses altitude, especially in a glide in still air under given conditions of equilibrium.

SKID - Too shallow a bank in a turn, causing an aircraft to slide outward from its ideal turning path.

SLATS - Movable vanes or auxiliary airfoils, usually set along the leading edge of a wing but able to be lifted away at certain angles of attack.

SLIP - Too steep a bank in a turn, causing an aircraft to slide inward from its ideal turning path.

SLIPSTREAM - The flow of air driven backward by a propeller or downward by a rotor. Compare DOWNWASH.

SLOT - A long, narrow, spanwise gap in a wing, usually near the leading edge, to improve airflow at high angles of attack for slower landing speeds.

SLOTTED FLAP - A flap that, when depressed, exposes a SLOT and increases airflow between itself and the rear edge of the wing.

SMOH - "Since Major Overhaul," an acronym seen in reference to the operating hours, or time remaining, on an engine.

SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE (SUA) - Airspace of defined dimensions identified by an area on the surface of the earth wherein activities must be confined because of their nature and/or wherein limitations may be imposed upon aircraft operations that are not a part of those activities:
    Alert Area - Airspace which may contain a high volume of pilot training activities or an unusual type of aerial activity, neither of which is hazardous to aircraft. Alert Areas are depicted on aeronautical charts for the information of non-participating pilots. All activities within an Alert Area are conducted in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations, and pilots of participating aircraft as well as pilots transiting the area are equally responsible for collision avoidance.

    Military Operations Area (MOA) - Airspace established outside of Class A airspace area to separate or segregate certain non-hazardous military activities from IFR traffic and to identify for VFR traffic where these activities are conducted.

    Prohibited Area - Airspace designated under part 73 within which no person may operate an aircraft without the permission of the using agency.

    Restricted Area - Airspace designated under FAR Part 73, within which the flight of aircraft, while not wholly prohibited, is subject to restriction. Most restricted areas are designated joint use and IFR/VFR operations in the area may be authorized by the controlling ATC facility when it is not being utilized by the using agency. Restricted areas are depicted on enroute charts. Where joint use is authorized, the name of the ATC controlling facility is also shown.

    Warning Area - A warning area is airspace of defined dimensions extending from 3 nautical miles outward from the coast of the USA, that contains activity that may be hazardous to non-participating aircraft. The purpose of such warning area is to warn non-participating pilots of the potential danger. A warning area may be located over domestic or international waters or both.

SPLIT FLAP - A FLAP built into the underside of a wing, as opposed to a Full Flap wherein a whole portion of the trailing edge is used.

SPOILER - A long, movable, narrow plate along the upper surface of an airplane wing used to reduce lift and increase drag by breaking or spoiling the smoothness of the airflow.

SPORT PILOT - Special FAA certification enabling "budget" pilotry; see LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT and LSA feature.

SPONSON - A short, winglike protuberance on each side of a seaplane fuselage to increase lateral stability.

SQUAWK - A four-digit number dialed into his transponder by a pilot to identify his aircraft to air traffic controllers

STABILATOR - A movable horizontal tail that combines the actions of a stabilizer and elevator, increasing longitudinal stability while creating a pitching moment.

STABILIZER - The fixed part of a horizontal airfoil that controls the pitch of an aircraft; the movable part being the ELEVATOR.

STAGGER - The relative longitudinal position of the wings on a biplane. Positive Stagger is when the upper wing's leading edge is in advance of that of the lower wing [eg: Waco YKS], and vice versa for Negative Stagger [eg: Beechcraft D17].

STALL - (1) Sudden loss of lift when the angle of attack increases to a point where the flow of air breaks away from a wing or airfoil, causing it to drop. (2) A maneuver initiated by the steep raising of an aircraft's nose, resulting in a loss of velocity and an abrupt drop.

STANDARD AIR (Standard Atmosphere) - An arbitrary atmosphere established for calibration of aircraft instruments. Standard Air Density is 29.92 inches of mercury and temperature of 59° F, equivalent to an atmospheric air pressure of 14.7# per square inch.

STANDARD RATE TURN - A turn in which the heading of an aircraft changes 3° per second, or 360° in two minutes.

STATIC WIRE - A clip-on wire used to ground an aircraft by drawing off static electricity, a potential fire hazard, during refueling.

SUA  see  SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE

SUPERSONIC - Speed of flight at or greater than Mach 1.0; literally, faster than the speed of sound.

SWEEPBACK - A backward inclination of an airfoil from root to tip in a way that causes the leading edge and often the trailing edge to meet relative wind obliquely, as wingforms that are swept back.

SWING-WING - A wing whose horizontal angle to the fuselage centerline can be adjusted in flight to vary aircraft motion at differing speeds.

TAILDRAGGER  see  CONVENTIONAL GEAR

TARMAC - (1) A bituminous material used in paving; a trade name for Tar MacAdam. (2) An airport surface paved with this substance, especially a runway or an APRON at a hangar.

TAS - True Air Speed. Because an air speed indicator indicates true air speed only under standard sea-level conditions, true air speed is usually calculated by adjusting an Indicated Air speed according to temperature, density, and pressure. Compare CALIBRATED AIR SPEED and INDICATED AIR SPEED.

TCA  see  CONTROLLED AIRSPACE

TERMINAL RADAR SERVICE AREA (TRSA) - Airspace surrounding designated airports wherein ATC provides radar vectoring, sequencing, and separation on a full-time basis for all IFR and participating VFR aircraft. Service provided at a TRSA is called Stage III Service. TRSAs are depicted on VFR aeronautical charts. Pilot participation is urged but is not mandatory.

TETRAHEDRON - Ground-based, free-rotating, triangular-shaped wind direction indicator, generally placed near a runway, often lighted at major airports.

THRUST - The driving force of a propeller in the line of its shaft or the forward force produced in reaction to the gases expelled rearward from a jet or rocket engine. Opposite of DRAG.

TORQUE - A twisting, gyroscopic force acting in opposition to an axis of rotation, such as with a turning propeller; aka Torsion.

TOUCH-AND-GO - Landing practice in which an aircraft does not make a full stop after a landing, but proceeds immediately to another take-off.

TRACTOR - A propeller mounted in front of its engine, pulling an aircraft through the air, as opposed to a PUSHER configuration.

TRAILING EDGE - The rearmost edge of an AIRFOIL.

TRANSPONDER - An airborne transmitter that responds to ground-based interrogation signals to provide air traffic controllers with more accurate and reliable position information than would be possible with "passive" radar; may also provide air traffic control with an aircraft's altitude.

TRIKE - Nickname for a weight-shift-control aircraft, such as a paraglider.

TRIM TAB - A small, auxiliary control surface in the trailing edge of a wingform, adjustable mechanically or by hand, to counteract ("trim") aerodynamic forces on the main control surfaces.

TRUE AIRSPEED - The speed of an aircraft along its flight path, in respect to the body of air (air mass) through which the aircraft is moving. Also see CALIBRATED AIRSPEED, GROUND SPEED, INDICATED AIRSPEED.

TRUE NORTH - The northern direction of the axis of the Earth; aka "Map North." GEOGRAPHIC NORTH, as opposed to MAGNETIC NORTH.

TURBOJET - An aircraft having a jet engine in which the energy of the jet operates a turbine that in turn operates the air compressor.

TURBOPROP - An aircraft having a jet engine in which the energy of the jet operates a turbine that drives the propeller.

TURN & BANK INDICATOR - Primary air-driven gyro instrument, a combined turn indicator and lateral inclinometer to show forces on an aircraft in banking turns. Also referred to as "needle & ball" indicator, the needle as the gyro's pointer and a ball encased in a liquid-filled, curved tube.

TWILIGHT ZONE - Long before Rod Serling's tv series was this consumer-lever definition for a glitch in the ADCOCK RANGE, officially called a Bi-Signal Zone. It was a portion of the overlapping area of a beam where the continuous monotone "on-course" signal became temporarily overlayed with the "A" or "N" code signals. Read more here.

ULTRALIGHT - An aeronautical vehicle, operated for sport or recreational purposes, that does not require FAA registration, an airworthiness certificate, or pilot certification. Primarily single-occupant vehicles, although some two-place vehicles are authorized for training purposes. Operation of an ultralight vehicle in certain airspaces requires authorization from ATC.

UNCONTROLLED AIRSPACE - Class G Airspace; airspace not designated as Class A, B, C, D or E.

UNDERCARRIAGE - The landing gear of a land-based aircraft, including struts, frames, and wheels. A very British word that has limited use in the USA.

UNDERSHOOT - To land short of a runwway or planned landing spot. Opposite is OVERSHOOT.

UNICOM - Universal Communication. A common radio frequency (usually 121.0 mHz) used at uncontrolled (non-tower) airports for local pilot communication.

UPWASH - The slight, upward flow of air just prior to its reaching the leading edge of a rapidly moving airfoil.

UPWIND TURN - Long a point of contest among pilots, there is in reality no such thing as far as the airplane is concerned. Proponents claim that airplanes lose air speed when turning upwind, while opponents (and the laws of physics) argue that an airplane, like a boat in a river whose speed is only relative to the water and not the shore, is unaffected within the movement of an air mass and that it loses only ground speed.

USEFUL LOAD - The weight of crew, passengers, fuel, baggage, and ballast, generally excluding emergency or portable equipment and ordnance.

V - Velocity, now used in defining air speeds:

    VA = Maneuvering Speed (max structural speed for full control deflection)

    VD = Max Dive Speed (for certification only)

    VFE = Max Flaps Extended Speed

    VLE = Max Landing Gear Extended Speed

    VLO = Max Landing Gear Operation Speed

    VNE = Never Exceed Speed

    VNO = Max Structural Cruising Speed

    VS0 = Stalling Speed Landing Configuration

    VS1 = Stalling Speed in a specified Configuration

    VX = Best Angle of Climb Speed

    VXSE = Best Angle of Climb Speed, one engine out

    VY = Best Rate of Climb Speed

    VYSE = Best Rate of Climb Speed, one engine out

VAPOR TRAIL  see  CONTRAIL

VARIOMETER - A panel instrument, often as simple as a tiny ball in a vertical tube, indicating subtle PITCH movements of an aircraft. Popular use in SAILPLANES.

VENTRAL FIN - A fin/rudder extension on the bottom of a fuselage. Opposite of DORSAL FIN.

VENTURI TUBE - A small, hourglass-shaped metal tube, usually set laterally on a fuselage in the slipstream to create suction for gyroscopic panel instruments. Now outdated by more sophisticated means.

VFR - Visual Flight Rules that govern the procedures for conducting flight under visual conditions. The term is also used in the US to indicate weather conditions that are equal to or greater than minimum VFR requirements. Also used by pilots and controllers to indicate a specific type of flight plan.

VFR ON TOP - Flight in which a cloud ceiling exists but modified VISUAL FLIGHT RULES are in effect if the aircraft travels above the cloud layer.

VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC) - Meteorological conditions expressed in terms of visibility, distance from clouds, and ceiling equal to or better than specified minima.

VOR - VHF OmniRange. A ground-based navigation aid transmitting very high-frequency (VHF) navigation signals 360° in azimuth, on radials oriented from MAGNETIC NORTH. The VOR periodically identifies itself by Morse Code and may have an additional voice identification feature. Voice features can be used by ATC or FSS for transmitting information to pilots.

VORTAC - VOR + TACAN (Tactical Air Navigation); combined radio navigation aids.

VSI - Vertical Speed Indicator. A panel instrument that gauges rate of climb or descent in feet-per-minute (fpm). Also Rate Of Climb Indicator.

WASH-IN, WASH-OUT - A method of increasing lift by increasing (Wash-In) or decreasing (Wash-Out) the ANGLE OF INCIDENCE on the outer part of an airplane wing to counteract the effects of engine TORQUE.

WET COMPASS  see  COMPASS

WINGLET - A small, stabilizing, rudderlike addition to the tips of a wing to control or employ air movement.

WING LOADING - The maximum take-off gross weight of an aircraft divided by its wing area.

YAW - Of the three axes in flight, this specifies the side-to-side movement of an aircraft on its vertical axis, as in skewing. Compare PITCH and ROLL.

YOKE - The control wheel of an aircraft, akin to a automobile steering wheel.

http://www.aerofiles.com/glossary.html

http://www.spaceday.org/index.php/Glossary-of-Aeronautics-Terms.html

http://www.alphadictionary.com/directory/Specialty_Dictionaries/Aviation/