DICTIONARY OF AERONAUTICAL TERMS
A
- Aerodrome.
A tract of land selected for flying purposes.
- Aerodynamics.
The science of aviation, literally the study of the influence of air in motion.
- Aerofoil.
A flat or flexed plane which lends support to an aeroplane.
- Aeronaut.
One engaged in navigating the air.
- Aeronautics.
The science of navigating the air.
- Aeroplane.
A heavier than air machine supported by one or more fixed planes.
- Aerostatics.
The science of aerostation, or of buoyancy caused by displacement, ballooning.
- Aerostation.
The science of lighter than air or gas-born machines.
- Aileron.
The outer edge or tip of a plane, usually adjustable, used to balance or stabilize.
- Airship.
Commonly used to denote both heavier and lighter than air machines; correctly a dirigible balloon.
- Angle Of Incidence.
The angle of the plane with the line of travel.
- Area.
In the case of planes, the extent of surface measured on both the upper and lower sides. An area of one square foot comprises the actual surface of two square feet.
- Aspect Ratio.
The relation of a surface crossing the direction of flight with that paralleling the line of flight.
- Automatic Stability.
Stability secured by fins, the angle of the planes and similar devices.
- Aviator.
One engaged in aviation.
- Aviation.
The science of heavier than air machines.
B
- Balancer.
A plane or other part intended for lateral equilibrium.
- Biplane.
An aeroplane with two supporting surfaces one above the other.
- Body.
The main framework supporting the plane and the machinery.
C
- Camber.
The curve measured from the cord to the highest point of the plane.
- Carriage.
The part on which the main body is supported on land or water.
- Center Of Gravity.
The point at which the aeroplane balances.
- Center Of Pressure.
The imaginary line beneath the plane at which the pressure balances.
D
- Deck.
The main surface of a biplane or multiplane.
- Directional Control.
The ability to determine the direction of the flight of an aeroplane.
- Dirigible.
A balloon driven by power.
- Down Wind.
With the wind.
- Drift.
The resistance of the plane to the forward movement.
E
- Elevator.
The plane or wing intended to control the vertical flight of the machine.
- Engineer.
One who controls the power, driving the machinery.
- Entering Edge.
Front edge of the forward plane of an aeroplane.
- Equilibrator.
A plane or other contrivance which makes for stability.
F
- Flexed.
A plane is said to be flexed when it curves upward forming an arc of a circle.
- Fin.
A fixed vertical plane.
- Flying Machine.
Literally a form of lighter than air craft; a gas-born airship.
- Following Edge.
The rear edge of the plane or wing of an aeroplane.
- Fusilage.
The body or framework of an aeroplane.
G
- Glider.
An aeroplane without motor power.
- Guy.
A brace, usually a wire or cord used for tuning up the aeroplane.
- Gross Weight.
The weight of the aircraft comprising fuel, lubricating oils, and the pilot.
- Gyroscope.
A rotating mechanism for maintaining equilibrium.
H
- Hanger.
A shed for housing an aeroplane.
- Harbor.
A shelter for aircrafts.
- Heavier Than Air.
A machine weighing more than the air it displaces.
- Helicopter.
A flying machine driven upward by rotary screws on vertical shafts.
- Helmsman.
One in charge of the steering device.
L
- Lateral Stability.
Stability which prevents side motion.
- Loading.
The gross weight divided by the supporting area measured in square feet.
- Longitudinal Stability.
Stability which prevents fore and after motion or pitching.
M
- Mast.
A perpendicular stick holding the stays or struts which keep the planes rigid.
- Model Aeroplane.
A toy aeroplane, reproducing a man-carrying machine.
- Monoplane.
An aeroplane or heavier than air machine supported by a single main plane which may be formed of two wings extending from a central body.
- Motor.
A contrivance for generating driving power.
- Multiplane.
An aeroplane with more than three main planes one above another.
N
- Nacelle.
The car of a dirigible balloon, literally a cradle.
- Net Weight.
Complete weight of the machine without pilot, fuel or oil.
O
- Ornithopter.
A machine supported and propelled by planes moving in imitation of birds; a flapping wing machine.
- Orthogonal.
A flight maintained by flapping wings.
P
- Plane.
A surface or wing, either plain or flexed, employed to support or control an aeroplane.
- Pilot.
One directing an aeroplane in flight.
- Pitch.
Theoretical distance covered by a propeller in making one revolution.
- Pylon.
Correctly, a structure housing a falling weight used for starting an aeroplane, commonly a turning point in aeroplane flights.
- Propeller.
The screw used for driving an aeroplane, plane.
R
- Rudder.
A plane or group of planes used to steer an aeroplane.
- Runner.
Strip beneath an aeroplane used for a skid.
S
- Scale Model.
A miniature aeroplane exactly reproducing the proportions of an original.
- Spar.
A mast, strut, or brace.
- Stability.
The power to maintain an even keel in flight.
- Starting Platform.
A runway to enable an aeroplane to leave the ground.
- Skin Friction.
Resistance offered by planes or wings.
- Slip.
The difference between the distance actually travelled by a propeller and that measured by the pitch.
- Soaring Flight.
A gliding movement without apparent effort.
- Surface.
The extent of planes measured on one side only.
- Sustaining Surface.
Extent of wings or planes which lend support to an aeroplane.
T
- Tail.
The plane or planes, both horizontal and vertical, carried behind the main planes.
- Tandem.
An arrangement of two planes one behind the other.
- Thrust.
The power exerted by the propeller of an aeroplane.
- Tension.
The power exerted by twisted strands of rubber in unwinding.
- Tractor.
A propeller placed before the main plane.
- Triplane.
An aeroplane with three main planes one above another.
U
- Up Wind.
Against the wind.
W
- Wake.
The churned or disturbed air in the track of a moving aeroplane.
- Wash.
The movement of the air radiating from the sides of an aeroplane in flight.
- Wings.
Planes or supporting surfaces, commonly a pair of planes extending out from the central body.
*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SECOND BOYS' BOOK OF MODEL AEROPLANES ***