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EAA - Air travel index Category: Travel and Transportation > Air transport Date & country: 18/11/2013, USA Words: 213

g or g
see LOAD FACTOR

v-speed
V, Velocity, as used in defining specific air speeds at specific configurations or conditions: Read More

wingform
A wingform is the shape and layout of an airplane's wings as vied from above or below. Also see PLANFORM.

winglet
A small, stabilizing, rudder-like addition to the tips of a wing to control or employ air movement.

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 an automobile steering wheel.

vortilons
Small fencelike surfaces extending in front of the wing and attached to the undersurface. They are particularly useful in preventing spanwise flow at high angles of attack, by shedding a vortex, similar to that of a wing fence. Vortilons generate a vortex over the upper surface at high angles of attack.

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

washout
The terms 'wing twist' and 'washout' refer to wings designed so that the outboard sections have a lower ANGLE OF INCIDENCE, 3 or 4

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.

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 facing into 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 Now outdated by more sophisticated means.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.

useful load
The weight of crew, passengers, fuel, baggage, and ballast, generally excluding emergency or portable equipment and ordnance.

variometer
(also known as a vario, rate of climb and descent indicator [RCDI], rate of climb indicator, vertical speed indicator [VSI], or vertical velocity indicator [VVI]) is one of the flight instruments in an aircraft (mostly used in sailplanes, hang gliders, paragliders, etc.) used to inform the pilot of the near instantaneous (rather than averaged) rate of descent or climb in order to detect the presence of a thermal or other forms of lift for unpowered aircraft.

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

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.

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.

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.

turbocharger
(Turbo) An air compressor or SUPERCHARGER on an internal combustion piston engine that is driven by the engine exhaust gas to increase or boost the amount of fuel that can be burned in the cylinder, thereby increasing engine power and performance. On an aircraft piston engine, the turbocharger allows the engine to retain its sea-level power rating at higher altitudes despite a decrease in atmospheric pressure. Also see SUPERCHARGER.

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

trailing edge
The rearmost edge of an AIRFOIL.

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

thrust horsepower
The force-velocity equivalent of the thrust developed by a jet or rocket engine. The thrust of an engine-propeller combination expressed in horsepower; it differs from the shaft horsepower of the engine by the amount the propeller efficiency varies from 100 percent.

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

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

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.

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.

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

supercharger
An air pump or blower in the intake system of an internal combustion engine. Its purpose is to increase the air-charge weight and therefore the power output from an engine of a given size. In an aircraft engine, the supercharger counteracts the power loss that results from the decrease of atmospheric pressure with increase of altitude. Various types of pumps and compressors may be used as superchargers, which are either mechanically driven by the engine crankshaft or powered by the engine exhaust gas. Also see TURBOCHARGER

stoichiometric
or theoretical combustion is the ideal combustion process during which a fuel is burned completely. A complete combustion is a process that converts all carbon (C) to carbon dioxide (CO2), all hydrogen (H) to water (H2O), and all sulfur (S) to sulfur dioxide (SO2). If there are unburned components in the exhaust gas such as C, H2, or CO, the combustion process is uncompleted.

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

standard day (standard atmosphere)
An arbitrary atmosphere established for calibration of aircraft instruments. Standard Air Density is 29.92 inches of mercury and temperature of 59

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.

sponson
A short, wing-like protuberance on each side of a seaplane fuselage to increase lateral stability.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

sink, sinking speed
The speed at which an aircraft loses altitude, especially in a glide in still air under given conditions of equilibrium.

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.

servo tab
A small portion of a flight-control surface that deploys in such a way that it helps to move the entire flight-control surface in the direction that the pilot wishes it to go. A servo tab is a dynamic device that deploys to decrease the pilot

service ceiling
The density altitude at which flying in a clean configuration, at the best rate of climb airspeed for that altitude and with all engines operating and producing maximum (available) continuous power, will produce a 100 feet per minute climb. Margin to stall at service ceiling is 1.5g.

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.

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

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.

scimitar propeller
A scimitar propeller is any propeller that is shaped like a scimitar sword, with increasing sweep along the leading edge. Fixed-pitch versions that have an exaggerated sweep are reported to behave similarly to a constant-speed propeller flexing to change pitch as the prop is loaded and unloaded.

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

ruddervator / ruddervators
The control surfaces on an airplane with a V-tail configuration. They are located at the trailing edge of each of the two airfoils making up the tail of the plane. The name derives from a combination of the word rudder and elevator. In traditional aircraft tail configurations, the rudder provides horizontal (yaw) control and the elevator provides vertical (pitch) control. Ruddervators provide the same control effect, albeit through a more complex control system by mixing the control inputs. Yaw is achieved through deflecting both ruddervators in the same direction (left or right) as viewed from either the front or the rear of the plane

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.

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).

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.

reynolds number
In fluid mechanics, a number that indicates whether the flow of a fluid (liquid or gas) is absolutely steady (in streamlined, or laminar flow) or on the average steady with small, unsteady changes (in turbulent flow; see turbulence). The Reynolds number, abbreviated NRe or Re, has no dimensions (see dimensional analysis) and is defined as the size of the flow

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.

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.

planform
or plan view is a vertical orthographic projection of an object on a horizontal plane, like a map. In aviation, a planform is the shape and layout of an airplane's wing and fuselage. Of all the myriad planforms used, they can typically be grouped into those used for low-speed flight, found on general aviation aircraft, and those used for high-speed flight, found on many military aircraft and airliners.

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 conjunction 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).

pilot in command (pic)
The pilot responsible for the operation and safety of an aircraft during flight time.

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.

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.

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

nitriding
Gas nitriding is a case-hardening process whereby nitrogen is introduced into the surface of a solid ferrous alloy by holding the metal at a suitable temperature and in contact with a nitrogenous gas, usually ammonia. Nitrogen released by the decomposition of ammonia reacts with the metal to make iron nitride, a hardening substance. Process methods for nitriding include: gas (box furnace or fluidized bed), liquid (salt bath), and plasma (ion) nitriding.

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.

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

mogas
An aviation nickname for everyday automobile gasoline intended by the purchaser for aircraft use. Mogas is a portmanteau for autoMObile gasoline, as distinguished from AVGAS (aviation gasoline) which is specifically blended for aviation use and not intended nor legal to use in land-based internal combustion engines.

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

magnaflux
The Magnaflux process is a method of testing ferrous metals for surface and subsurface flaws, most often used on industrial tools and engine parts during maintenance inspections. It works by applying a magnetic field to the component causing a high concentration of magnetic flux at surface cracks, which can be made visible by dusting iron powder or a similar magnetic material over the component, using either wet or dry methods. The wet method consists of bathing the part(s) in a solution containing iron oxide particles while placed in the magnetic field and inspecting it with a black light (ultraviolet light). The particles flux around the imperfections, and the patterns are visible under the black light. The dry method is based on the same principle. Parts are dusted with iron oxide particles and charged using a yoke. The particles are attracted to the discontinuities and are visible by black light.

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.

load factor (g)
The proportion between lift and weight commonly seen as g (sometimes capitalized)

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.

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

light sport aircraft
Special FAA certification class (LSA) for an aircraft other than a helicopter or powered-lift

lift wires
Interplane bracing wires that help support wing loads 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.

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 (L over D).

lift coefficient
A number that aerodynamicists use to model all of the complex dependencies of shape, inclination, and some flow conditions on lift. CL is the non-dimensional coefficient of lift. If the subscript used is a lowercase l, then the section or airfoil (2D) lift coefficient is meant. If the subscript used is an uppercase L, then the lift coefficient for an entire wing or other body (3D) is meant.

joystick or stick
A single floor- or roof-mounted control stick

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 wing loads when the plane is on the ground. Direction of travel is downward and outward from the fuselage. Opposite of FLYING WIRES.

inertia force
A force due to inertia, or the resistance to acceleration or deceleration.

inductance
(1) The property of an electric circuit by which a varying current in it produces a varying magnetic field that induces voltages in the same circuit or in a nearby circuit. It is measured in henrys. Inductance symbol: L. (2) The capacity of an electric circuit for producing a counter electromotive force when the current changes.

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

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.

induced drag
is caused by that element of the air deflected downward which is not vertical to the flight path but is tilted slightly rearward from it. As the angle of attack increases, so does drag; at a critical point, the angle of attack can become so great that the airflow is broken over the upper surface of the wing, and lift is lost while drag increases.