Glossary
AileronA control surface set into or near
the trailing edge of an airplane wing, extending, when in the wing,
toward the tip and usually within the contour of the wing, and used to
control the longitudinal axis of an airplane.
AirborneOf an airplane or other winged
craft: Supported entirely by aerodynamic forces; flying.
AirfoilA surface or body, as a wing,
propeller blade, rudder, or the like, especially designed to obtain a
reaction, as lift or thrust, from the air through which it moves.
Angle of attackThe acute angle between
the chord of an airfoil, and a line representing the undisturbed
relative airflow. Any other acute angle between two reference lines
designating the cant of an airfoil relative to oncoming air.
Aspect ratioThe ratio between the span
of an airfoil and its chord.
CamberThe curve of an airfoil section
from the leading edge to the trailing edge. Camber is usually expressed
as the distance from the chord line to the upper or lower surface of an
airfoil.
Center-of-pressure travelThe movement,
or the amount of movement, of the center of pressure along a chord of an
airfoil as the latter is inclined through its normal angles of
attack.
ChordAn assumed straight-line tangent to
the lower surface of an airfoil section at two points, or a straight
line between the leading and trailing edges of an airfoil section, or
between the ends of the mean line of an airfoil section; the distance
between the leading and trailing edges of an airfoil section.
DragA resistant force exerted in a
direction opposite to the direction of motion and parallel to the
relative gas or air stream.
Dynamic liftThe lift given an airplane
by the aerodynamic force produced from an adequately designed
airfoil.
GliderA fixed-wing aircraft having no
power plant and constructed so as to glide and soar.
GlidingThe art, science, and activity of
moving through the air in a glider.
Heavier-than-air aircraftAny aircraft
weighing more than the air it displaces.
LiftThat component of the total
aerodynamic forces acting on an airfoil or on an entire aircraft or
winged missile, perpendicular to the relative wind, and exerted,
normally, in an upward direction opposing the pull of gravity.
Lighter-than-air aircraftAn aircraft
that rises and is supported in air by virtue of a contained gas weighing
less than the air displaced by the gas.
Nose diveA steep dive by, or in, an
aircraft.
Power plantThe complete engine or
engines in an aircraft, together with propeller or propellers (if any),
accessories, fuel and oil tanks and lines, etc.
Powered aircraftAn aircraft having one
or more engines, as distinguished from a glider.
TailspinA spin, so named in reference to
the characteristic spiral action of the tail when the airplane is in a
spin.
WarpTo change the shape of something,
especially an airplane's wing, by twisting. To give lift or drop to a
wing by twisting it at the ends.
Wind tunnelA chamber through which air
is forced at controlled velocities, up to several thousand miles an
hour, and in which airfoils, airplanes, missiles, scale models of
airplanes, or other objects are mounted in order to observe and study
the airflow about such objects, as well as the aerodynamic effects upon
them.
WingspanThe span of a wing, measured or
taken between the tips or outermost extremities of either a single-piece
wing or a wing that is separated by other aircraft components.
Wing-warpingThe action of warping a
wing, or a control system for warping the wings at will.
YawAn angular displacement or motion to
the left or right about the vertical axis of an airplane.
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