A power driven heavier than air aircraft that derives surport in the atmosphere from the reactions of the air on its surfaces that remain fixed under given conditions of flight.(Also airplane)
Any moveable surface on an aircraft which controls its motion about one of the three principal axes. Ailerons, elevators, and the rudder are examples of control surfaces.
The direction in which the aircraft is moving, not to be confused with the heading which is the direction the aircraft is pointing. The course and heading will usually differ because of crosswinds (see crab). The course is also different from the track which is properly the path over the ground that the aircraft has already flown (although course and track are sometimes used synonomously).
crab
A crab is a manoever used to eliminate the drift of an aircraft caused by wind. The pilot will offset the heading of the aircraft from the desired track by a calculated amount, and the aircraft's velocity combined with the wind through vector addition will give a net movement in the desired direction.
chord
The dimension of a wing parallel to the direction of motion.(Compare with span and thickness.)
The angle that an aeroplane's wings make with a horizontal plane. A larger dihedral angle gives greater roll(lateral) stability at the cost of efficiency.
dirigible
A lighter-than-air craft that can be steered and propelled through the air. From the French word dirigeable meaning steerable. (This term is generally considered out-of-date. The modern term is airship.)
elevons
On an aeroplane, elevons are a single control surface which combines the function of the elevators and ailerons in one. They are usually seen on delta-wing aircraft.
elevators
On an aeroplane, the elevators are a control surface usually on the trailing edge of the horizontal stabilizer. The elevators are used to control pitch.
feather
To rotate the pitch of the propeller blades until they are oriented directily into the airflow, providing the least air resistance and no thrust. The propeller is usually feathered when an engine fails.
An unpowered fixed-wing heavier-than-air craft. (Also sailplane)
heading
The direction in which an aircraft is pointing measure clockwise in degrees from North. Note that this is not necessarily the same as the aircraft's track because of wind.
helicopter
A rotor craft with one or more sets of powered blades.
Instrument flight rules; a regulatory term describing a flight which may be conducted in conditions where the pilot cannot see outside the aircraft (e.g. in cloud and fog) and must fly only by his instruments. Compare to VFR.
On an aeroplane, the rudder is a control surface usually on the trailing edge of the vertical stabilizer or fin. The rudder is used to control yaw.
ruddervators
On an aeroplane, ruddervators are a single control surface which combine the function of the rudder and elevators in one. They are usually seen on V-tail aircraft.
A manoevre where an aeroplane pilot rolls the aircraft in one direction with the ailerons and yaws it in the opposite direction with the rudder. This results in the aircraft continuing to move forward but presenting a larger cross-section to the oncoming air - thereby creating drag and causing the aeroplane to lose altitude rapidly in a controlled manner.
The dimension of a wing perpendicular to the direction of motion. (Compare with chord and thickness.)
stabilator
On an aeroplane, a stabilator is a surface which combines the function of the horizontal stabilizer and elevators in one by allowing the entire horizontal stabilizer to move and control the pitch of the aircraft.
The path on the ground over which an aircraft has flown. Also used synonomously with course, the direction in which an aircraft is moving relative to the ground. Note that this is not neccesarily the same as the aircraft's heading.
thickness
The vertical dimension of a wing. (Compare with span and chord.)
threshold
The beginning of the part of the runway usable for landing
touchdown zone (TDZ)
The first 3000 feet of the runway or the first third of the runway, whichever is less, measured from the threshold
A small, powered aircraft which is extremely light and seats only one or two occupants. Ultralights are popular among hobbyists for being cost-effective and having lenient regulation.
Visual flight rules; a regulatory term describing flights that are conducted only in conditions where the pilot can see the ground, or in some instances is flying in the free space above a cloud. Compare to IFR.
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