truck beam

[A Boeing 777 main landing gear assembly] comprises a shock strut, at the top of which is the MLG trunnion; at the lower end is a truck beam with three axles and six wheels. The truck beam rotates in pitch about a pivot at the base of the shock strut and a truck position actuator tilts the truck when the aircraft is airborne.

2010 February 9, Air Accidents Investigation Branch, “1.6.13 Landing gear”, in Report on the accident to Boeing 777-236ER, G-YMMM, at London Heathrow Airport on 17 January 2008, archived from the original on 2022-04-12, page 28:

(aviation) A fore-and-aft horizontal beam at the lower end of the gear strut of a multi-axle landing gear bogie, upon which are mounted the multiple axles of the bogie.


CMCA

cruise missile carrier aircraft
cruise missile carrier aircraft#English

(military, aviation) Initialism of cruise missile carrier aircraft. A cargoplane loaded with cruise missiles, that are dropped out the rear cargo door to launch while airborne


MIPCC

mass injection and pre-compressor cooling technology#English

(aviation) Initialism of mass injection and pre-compressor cooling technology. A type of water injection cooling for jet engines


arsenal plane

(military, aviation) A cargoplane filled with munitions, that are deployed when airborne by dropping them out the rear door, and having the weapons perform any necessary targetting and maneuvering by themselves.


wild weasel

Genericization of the codename Wild Weasel of the first aircraft tasked with the anti-SAM role in the USAF during the Vietnam War. From the dancing of weasels in the wild and their behavior of hunting snakes, contrasted with the maneuvering of the wild weasel aircraft and their hunting of SAMs.

surface-to-air missile
surface-to-air missile

anti-radiation missile
anti-radiation missile

(US, military, aviation) An attack airplane specialized for attacking anti-aircraft defenses (AADs), typically surface-to-air missile (SAM) sites and radar control stations, typically with anti-radiation missiles (ARMs).


combat air patrol

en-noun

combat air patrol (plural combat air patrols)

(military, aviation) A patrolling force of fighter aircraft tasked with covering and screening a friendly asset (such as an aircraft carrier or a flight of bombers) in order to defend it from incoming hostile aircraft.


air denial

(military, aviation) A situation in aerial warfare wherein one's air force is significantly outmatched in the air by an enemy air force, but is nevertheless able to contest control of the air and prevent the enemy from achieving air supremacy.

(military, aviation) The strategies used by the weaker air force in this situation.


lockpin

The pulling force exerted by the arms will then cause the spring-loaded lockpin retract collar to contact two fiberglass catches in the receptacle.

1970, US Bureau of Naval Personnel, Aviation Structural Mechanic E 1 & C., page 270:

The lockpin housing contains a bushing for the parking lockpin mechanism and a bonded nylon strap.

1989, US Department of the Army, Aviation Unit and Intermediate Maintenance Manual, page 3-54:

These safety lockpins, when engaged, prevent the main locking pins from disengaging, regardless of hydraulic pressure.

2008, US Navy, Grumman F6F Hellcat Pilot's Flight Operating Instructions, →ISBN, page 16:

(chiefly aviation) A pin used to lock a mechanism and prevent it from moving.


piddle pack

(aviation, aerospace) A urine collection device used as a toilet by the crew of an aircraft or spacecraft.


bringback

en-adj

bringback (comparative more bringback, superlative most bringback)

more bringback (comparative)
most bringback (superlative)

(military, aviation) Pertaining to return payload weight for aircraft from aircraft carriers.


aerocar

(science fiction) A flying car; a flying machine which looks and functions similarly to modern cars, often described as using antigravity technology.


alternate aerodrome

en-noun

alternate aerodrome (plural alternate aerodromes)

If an emergency landing is made elsewhere than at an international aerodrome or a designated alternate aerodrome, the pilot in command shall report the landing as promptly as possible by telephone or most convenient means to the nearest Customs office.

1979 January, “Regulations Concerning Airport Use”, in United States of America Aeronautical Information Publication:

An aircraft operated in IFR flight shall carry an amount of fuel that is sufficient to allow the aircraft [...] where an alternate aerodrome is specified in the flight plan or flight itinerary, to fly and execute an approach and a missed approach at the destination aerodrome, to fly and land at the alternate aerodrome and then to fly for a period of 45 minutes [...]

2022, A. J. D. Fafard, “Pre-flight and Fuel Requirements”, in Canadian Air Law for Pilots:

(aviation) An aerodrome to which a flight may proceed if landing at the intended destination becomes impossible or inadvisable.


Nastronaut

/ˈnæstɹəˌnɔːt/

/ˈnæʃtɹəˌnɔt/

yankophile, cinephile, globophile, econocrat, indocrat, securocrat, plastinaut, nastronaut, xerocracy, psytocracy, corpocracy

2008, Poznań Studies in Contemporary Linguistics: PSiCL., Volume 44, Issue 3, volume 34, number 3, Adam Mickiewicz University, page 372:

"Hey Uncle Josh!" With Natalie's help, J.T. scrambled to the ground, then ran over, arms extended. Josh swung him onto his hip. "Look at me! I'm a nastronaut!" "That's pretty cool, J.T. Are you going off in a spaceship?"

2010 August 1, Marilyn Pappano, The Trouble With Josh, Silhouette, →ISBN, page 17:

"Fox was sick, and the nastronaut is staying with us!" "Someone was sick on a nastronaut?!" Tycho went over his news again, at half the speed. Twice.

2019 January 10, E E Oakey, From the Depths of Vispa, E E Oakey, →ISBN:

'But wasn't the first nastronaut called “Garret”?' asked Tycho, 'Like Meena and Ffang, the zookeepers?' 'Yes, that's right,' said Addie, reading from her cape again.

2020 June 3, E E Oakey, Across the Sands of Aurinko, E E Oakey, →ISBN:

An astronaut currently or formerly employed by NASA.


downpointer

During one session , the subject used a canopy-mounted downpointer to estimate position in space relative to the ground, and in the other session the subject used a joystick-controlled, inside-out, aircraft attitude indicator.

1989, Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine, page 492:

(aviation) An indicator that points toward the ground.


super light

(aviation) An aircraft classification above light and below submid.

(aviation) An aircraft fitting that class


TIS-B

(aviation) Abbreviation of broadcast traffic information system.


ADS-R

automatic dependent surveillance - rebroadcast#English

(aviation) rebroadcast ADS: Initialism of automatic dependent surveillance - rebroadcast. (rebroadcasting of ADS automated transmission of GPS location information from an aircraft via an ADS station)


HAF

Hellenic Air Force
w:en:Hellenic Air Force

(military, aviation) Abbreviation of Hellenic Air Force. The air force of Greece

Honduran Air Force
w:en:Honduran Air Force

(military, aviation) Abbreviation of Honduran Air Force. The air force of Honduras

w:en:Headquarters, United States Air Force

(US, military, aviation) Abbreviation of Headquarters, Air Force. (United States Air Force Headquarters) The general staff bureau of the United States Air Force


UHB

UHB (countable and uncountable, plural UHBs)

(aviation) Abbreviation of ultrahigh bypass jet engine (“propfan”).


PLAAF

People's Libaration Army Air Force
w:en:People's Libaration Army Air Force

People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China#English

(aviation, military) Abbreviation of People's Libaration Army Air Force. The national air force of the People's Republic of China.


Black Tulip

black+tulip. Calque of Russian Чёрный тюльпан (Čórnyj tjulʹpan). From the use of the aircraft as a means to repatriate corpses of fallen soldiers. From the use of black tulips and other flowers to border obituaries. Originating as a nickname used by Soviet aircrews of the repatriation transport missions during the Afghan War, and popularized by Alexander Rezenbaum in a popular Soviet song, before migrating into English.

calque

Чёрный тюльпан

(military, aviation) Synonym of Antonov An-12 (“Soviet-era turboprop cargoplane”)


FLI

en-noun

FLI (countable and uncountable, plural FLIs)

(aviation) Initialism of first limit indicator.


chiefie

And did you know the Chiefie said that one of our kites went in the drink last night?

Avoiding the Taceval man's gaze the 'chiefie' winked and pulled a face.

2017, Richard Pike, Phantom Boys, volume 2:


Frise aileron

Developed by Leslie George Frise (1897–1979) of the Bristol Aeroplane Company.

(aviation) A kind of aileron that pivots on an offset hinge when pressure is applied to the control wheel or control stick, so as to project the leading edge of the aileron into the airflow and generate drag.


air staff

(military, aviation) The chief commander, flag officers, and bureau in charge of a military's air branch. The headqaurters general staff of an air force.


RIMCAS

(aviation) Acronym of runway incursion monitoring and collision avoidance system.


GCAS

(aviation) Acronym of ground collision avoidance system.


flightmare

Blend of flight + nightmare. Compare also frightmare.

She glanced, for the first time since this flightmare started, to the man sitting in the aisle seat beside her.

2011, Joe Shrader, Eden Falls, page 118:

I was so grateful to see my children that day, and even Jake was a sight for sore eyes after the “flightmare” from hell.

2015, Mary Helen Hensley, Promised by Heaven:

The flightmare continues as I elbow my way through chuckleheads in pleated khakis or gamey business suits with phones clipped to their belts, parents who are wrangling several unruly kids hopped up on M&Ms, and reunited couples engaged in serious tonsil hockey.

2015, Jennifer Worick, Things I Want to Punch in the Face, page 15:

(travel, aviation) An unpleasant flight or experience during air travel.


stallproof

en-adj

stallproof (comparative more stallproof, superlative most stallproof)

more stallproof (comparative)
most stallproof (superlative)

(aviation) Resistant to going into a stall.


spinproof

spinproof (comparative more spinproof, superlative most spinproof)

more spinproof (comparative)
most spinproof (superlative)

(aviation) Resistant to going into a spin.


rockaire

(astronautics, aviation, dated) An air-launched rocket

(space science, dated) An aeroplane-launched sounding rocket

An air-launched rocket
An aeroplane-launched sounding rocket

(astronautics, dated) An airplane-launched space rocket

An air-launched rocket
An airplane-launched space rocket


equitime

(aviation) The point in time at which an aircraft is halfway from its origin to its destination.


bicycle gear

en-noun

bicycle gear (countable and uncountable, plural bicycle gears)

bicycle landing gear
bicycle landing gear#English

(aviation) Synonym of bicycle landing gear


VTO

(aviation) Initialism of vertical takeoff.


CFII

(US, aviation) certificated (or certified, informally) flight instructor, instrument (a CFI with an instrument rating, qualified to give instrument flight rules training)


OTU

Operational Training Unit
w:Operational Training Unit

(aviation) Initialism of Operational Training Unit.


MEI

(US, aviation) multiengine instructor (a CFI qualified to give training in multiengine aircraft)


rotary wing

(aviation) A primary lift surface that produces lift in rotation, such as found in helicopters.


mean sea level

mean sea level (countable and uncountable, plural mean sea levels)

(aviation, meteorology, oceanography) The mean altitude of the ocean surface, averaged over all high and low tides at a particular location.


lightning carrier

lightning carrier (plural lightning carriers)

Blend of lightning + aircraft carrier. From the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, the Lightning II jump jet, itself named after WWII Lockheed P-38 Lightning I, in turn, named after the lightning bolt and lightning.

aircraft carrier
aircraft carrier#English

(nautical, military, aviation, slang) A small light fast aircraft carrier specialized in operating VTOL aircraft, used for controlling sea lanes, convoy escort, and, anti-submarine patrol (ASW)

en:Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II
en:Lockheed P-38 Lightning


harrier carrier

harrier carrier (plural harrier carriers)

Blend of harrier + aircraft carrier. From the Hawker-Siddeley Harrier GR.1/2/3 & AV-8A and the McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II, the Harrier jump jet named after the harrier bird.

(nautical, military, aviation, slang) A small light fast aircraft carrier specialized in operating VTOL aircraft, used for controlling sea lanes, convoy escort, and anti-submarine patrol (ASW).

en:Hawker-Siddeley Harrier
en:McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II


thopter

Another ’thopter glided in over the cliff wall above Hawat. He drew in a sharp breath as he saw it—a big troop-carrier. It flew with the slow, spread-wing heaviness of a full load like a giant bird coming to its nest.

1965, Frank Herbert, Dune, New York: Ace Books, →OCLC, page 225:

I'm sending down five more dropships, combat EMVs, and a thopter gunship.

1997 September 14, Dan Simmons, The Rise of Endymion, New York: Bantam, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 363:

Flowstone Thopter gets +1/-1 and gains flying until end of turn.

2000 February 14, “Flowstone Thopter”, in Magic: The Gathering, Nemesis, Wizards of the Coast:

(fiction) Synonym of ornithopter (“birdlike aircraft”)


unicom

(aviation) An air-ground communication facility operated by a private agency (not air traffic control) to provide advice at uncontrolled aerodromes and airports and to provide non-flight services such as requesting a taxi.


hurricane hunter

hurricane hunter (plural hurricane hunters)

(aviation, meteorology) An aircraft used to fly through hurricanes, or into the eye of hurricanes, to collect meteorological data, and sea surface data.

(aviation, meteorology) A member of the aircrew of such aircraft.


airmark

Coordinate term: landmark

(aviation) A recognizable natural or man-made feature used for aerial navigation.


airmark

en-verb

airmark (third-person singular simple present airmarks, present participle airmarking, simple past and past participle airmarked)

airmarks (present singular third-person)
airmarking (participle present)
airmarked (participle past)
airmarked (past)

(aviation) To mark airport names or identifiers so that they can be seen from the sky, to aid pilots in navigation.


Palam

Transliteration of Hindustani پَالَم / पालम (pālam).

Air India suffered the loss of a DC-3 on the Delhi-Bombay night mail run on May 9. The aircraft crashed approximately 20 miles south of Palam Airport, Delhi. The crew of four and all 14 passengers were killed.

1953, “News in Brief”, in Roland E. Dangerfield, editor, The Aeroplane, volume 84, page 668:

South West Delhi
South West Delhi#English

A neighbourhood of South West Delhi district, Delhi, India.

(aviation) The international airport of Delhi, India, officially Indira Gandhi International Airport.


wheelpants

(aviation) fairings around the wheels of fixed landing gear


Concordski

From Concorde (supersonic airliner) + -ski as a satirical coinage, due to being a Soviet aircraft with very similar role and visual profile, and as an allusion to the alleged Soviet industrial espionage of Concorde which was purported to have made the aircraft's design and construction possible.

(aviation, historical, humorous) The Tupolev Tu-144 (a Soviet supersonic airliner).

Soviet Union
Soviet industrial espionage of Concorde


radar cross section

en-noun

radar cross section (plural radar cross sections)

Alternative form: (abbreviation) RCS

(telecommunications, aviation) A measure of the detectability of an object by radar.


squawk sheet

(aviation, slang) A pilot's report of problems encountered with an aircraft during flight.


equisignal

instrument landing system
instrument landing system

(aviation, historical) A merged signal composed of two separate signals of differing amplitudes, indicating that the aircraft is on course, in certain instrument landing systems. When off course, the two signals can be heard separately.


Shannon stopover

Shannon stopover (plural Shannon stopovers)

(Ireland, aviation, historical) A compulsory stopover at Shannon Airport that was imposed on airline flights from North America which intended to visit another airport in the Republic of Ireland (such as Dublin), which applied to all flights from 1986 to 1993, then half of all flights until its abolition in 2007.


horizontal stabilizer

horizontal stabilizer (plural horizontal stabilizers)

Coordinate term: vertical stabilizer


tkof

tkof (countable and uncountable, plural tkofs)


TCAA

Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority
w:Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority

(Tanzania) Initialism of Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority.


outside loop

(aviation, aerobatics) An aerobatic maneuver in which a vertical circle is entered from straight and erect level flight, canopy pointing out of the loop.


fixed-wing

(aircraft) Referring to aircraft whose wings are fastened to the fuselage, and remain in the same position during flight.


flight time

(aviation) The total amount of time spent piloting aircraft, serving as the primary measure of a pilot's experience.


block time

block time (countable and uncountable, plural block times)


gate time

(travel, aviation) The moment in time at which an aircraft pulls back from the gate, or passes a certain point on the track.

(travel, aviation) A prescheduled time at which a flight will enter a new area of controlled airspace.


elapsed flying time

elapsed flying time (countable and uncountable, plural elapsed flying times)

(travel, aviation) The amount of time that an aircraft spends in the air.


middle of the market

(aviation, business) The market for airliners whose specification falls between narrowbody and widebody.


quicksilver horizon

quicksilver horizon (plural quicksilver horizons)

(aviation) A type of artificial horizon made from mercury.


time of useful consciousness

(aviation, pulmonology) The amount of time a person is able to function effectively in an environment of inadequate oxygen supply.


actual flying time

actual flying time (countable and uncountable, plural actual flying times)

(business, travel, aviation) The total amount of time that an aircraft is in the air, excluding its time on the ground.


severe clear

The term became popular after 9/11, in reference to the weather on that day.

(aviation) Weather so bright that visibility is practically unhindered.


wingbox

(aviation) The primary load-carrying structure of the wing of a fixed-wing aircraft.


long sell

en-verb

long sell (third-person singular simple present long sells, present participle long selling, simple past and past participle long sold)

long sells (present singular third-person)
long selling (participle present)
long sold (participle past)
long sold (past)

(transitive, ditransitive, intransitive, aviation, travel, dated) (in a GDS) To reserve a flight by typing the required computer commands with the itinerary details together and entering the command once, rather than selecting from displayed availability.


hard-land

hard-land (third-person singular simple present hard-lands, present participle hard-landing, simple past and past participle hard-landed)

hard-lands (present singular third-person)
hard-landing (participle present)
hard-landed (participle past)
hard-landed (past)

Coordinate term: soft-land

(transitive, intransitive, astronautics, aviation) To land (a vehicle or other payload) on the surface of a body in such a manner that it does not survive the landing mostly or entirely intact and is unusable or unable to operate, even briefly, following touchdown.


hard landing

en-noun

hard landing (countable and uncountable, plural hard landings)

(aviation) An excessively-forceful touchdown, potentially causing damage to the aircraft.


Mercury Seven

NASA's first astronaut group, consisting of seven members, chosen in 1959: Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard, and Deke Slayton.

Alan Shepard
Deke Slayton
Gordon Cooper
Gus Grissom
John Glenn
Scott Carpenter
Wally Schirra


inside loop

(aviation, aerobatics) An aerobatic maneuver in which a vertical circle is entered from straight and erect level flight, with a positive pitching movement used at all points in the loop to draw the circle.


English bunt

(aviation, aerobatics) An aerobatic maneuver consisting of a half of an outside loop starting from upright, and then straight and erect level flight.


doctor killer

From the epithet "forked-tail doctor killer," ascribed to the V-tail variant of the Beechcraft Bonanza aircraft due to the frequency of crashes and in-flight breakups attributed to wealthy amateur pilots, such as physicians.

(slang, aviation) A personal light aircraft attributed to a large number of serious accidents or fatal crashes.


clearance time

clearance time (countable and uncountable, plural clearance times)

And when the pilot asks for an expect further clearance time, he is usually told, "Oh, you can expect your filed route after such and such," the fix to which you have been cleared.

1992 April, Howard Fried, “Eye of the Examiner”, in Flying Magazine, volume 119, number 4, page 50:

The amount of time it takes from the initiation of a process until it is completed.

(aviation) The amount of time from when a pilot requests the right to land at an airport and the tower allows the pilot to land.

There should be a maximum clearance time of 45 minutes for any passenger on any international arriving flight on any day of the year at any time of the day.

1988, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Appropriations. Subcommittee on the Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government Appropriations, Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1989, page 132:

(travel, aviation) The amount of time it takes to get through customs.


RMAF

Royal Malaysian Air Force
w:Royal Malaysian Air Force

(Malaysia, military, aviation) Initialism of Royal Malaysian Air Force (“Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia”).

Royal Moroccan Air Force
w:Royal Moroccan Air Force

(military, aviation) Initialism of Royal Moroccan Air Force.


time charter

(business, aviation, nautical) A contract securing the cargo space of a ship or aircraft for a fixed time period.


grease it on

en-verb

grease it on (third-person singular simple present greases it on, present participle greasing it on, simple past and past participle greased it on)

greases it on (present singular third-person)
greasing it on (participle present)
greased it on (participle past)
greased it on (past)

(intransitive, aviation, slang) To perform a very soft landing.


greased landing

en-noun

greased landing (plural greased landings)


time front

(aviation, aerospace) A locus of points that represents the maximum ground distance from a point of departure that can be covered by an aircraft in a prescribed time interval.


primary time

primary time (countable and uncountable, plural primary times)

(military, aviation) The amount of time in which a pilot is actively controlling the aircraft, excluding time flown while instructing and evaluating.


show time

show time (countable and uncountable, plural show times)

(aviation, travel) The time prior to the departure of a scheduled aircraft in which the passenger service representatives at an airport terminal may begin the roll call for assigning seats.


P-factor

P-factor (countable and uncountable, plural P-factors)

(aviation) An aerodynamic phenomenon experienced by a moving propeller, whereby the propeller's center of thrust moves off-center when the aircraft is at a high angle of attack.


skiplagger

Typically, a skiplagger books a less expensive flight that has two or more legs rather than buy the more costly direct flight. But it’s a connecting city – not the final city of the flight – that has been the skiplagger's covert destination all along.

2023 November 24, “Skiplagging: Why some flyers love it and why airlines hate it”, in CNN:

(aviation) A traveller who disembarks at a "hidden city" rather than continuing to one's ticketed destination; one who practices skiplagging.


skiplag

en-verb

skiplag (third-person singular simple present skiplags, present participle skiplagging, simple past and past participle skiplagged)

skiplags (present singular third-person)
skiplagging (participle present)
skiplagged (participle past)
skiplagged (past)

Travellers who do decide to skiplag should always book one-way tickets, that way their return trip won't be cancelled if the airline does cancel their ticket.

2023 August 12, Rosie Frost, “What is Skiplagging? The cheap flight hack that airlines are cracking down on”, in Euronews:

(aviation) To disembark at a "hidden city" rather than continuing to one's ticketed destination.


skiplagged

en-adj

skiplagged (comparative more skiplagged, superlative most skiplagged)

more skiplagged (comparative)
most skiplagged (superlative)

A last-minute skiplagged ticket from Birmingham, UK to New York, US could save you around €100.

(aviation) A traveller or ticket involved with the practice of skiplagging.


SAAF

South African Air Force
w:South African Air Force

(South Africa, military, aviation) Initialism of South African Air Force.


IRIAF

Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
w:Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force

(military, aviation) Initialism of Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force.


IIAF

Imperial Iranian Air Force
w:Imperial Iranian Air Force

(military, aviation, historical) Initialism of Imperial Iranian Air Force (1925 to 1979).


nose over

en-verb

nose over (third-person singular simple present noses over, present participle nosing over, simple past and past participle nosed over)

noses over (present singular third-person)
nosing over (participle present)
nosed over (participle past)
nosed over (past)

(intransitive, aviation) To crash by landing such that the nose of the plane hits the ground first, causing the plane to topple forward.


Lufthansa

Borrowed from German Lufthansa, from a compound of Luft (“air”) + Hansa (“guild; Hanseatic League”).


KAF

(Kenya, military, aviation) Initialism of Kenya Air Force


stick puller

(aircraft, aviation) A device that applies aft pressure on the control column when the airplane is approaching the maximum operating speed.


center stick

(aircraft, aviation) An aircraft cockpit arrangement where the control column is located in the center of the cockpit either between the pilot's legs or between the pilots' positions.


control wheel

stick

(aviation) Synonym of stick (“a wheel-like control mechanism with a handgrip on opposite sides, similar to the steering wheel of an automobile”)


air data

Meronyms: airspeed, altitude, bearing, groundspeed; pitch, roll, yaw

(engineering, aviation) Information regarding an aircraft's flight parameters that is collected by sensors on the aircraft.


crossover airspeed

en-noun

crossover airspeed (usually uncountable, plural crossover airspeeds)

(aviation) The point at which an aircraft's calibrated airspeed and Mach value equal its true airspeed.


noise footprint

noise footprint (plural noise footprints)

(aviation) Of a flying aircraft, the ground area beneath it in which the noise exceeds a specified level.


parasite aircraft

parasite aircraft (usually uncountable, plural parasite aircrafts)

(aviation) A component of a composite aircraft which is carried aloft and air-launched by a larger carrier aircraft or mother ship to support the primary mission of the carrier.


air-launch

en-verb

air-launch (third-person singular simple present air-launches, present participle air-launching, simple past and past participle air-launched)

air-launches (present singular third-person)
air-launching (participle present)
air-launched (participle past)
air-launched (past)

(aviation) To release a missile, rocket, parasite aircraft or other aircraft payload from a mother ship or launch aircraft.


air-launched

(aviation) Of a rocket or missile, launched from an aircraft while in flight.


inertial reference

Moreover, one terminal of M is connected to the inertial reference (IR).

1974, Jose Behar Cruz, Mac Elwyn Van Valkenburg, Signals in Linear Circuits, page 532:

This goal leads to an experiment system design which combines hardward from many technology areas: an optical telescope and IR sensors; and advanced angular intertial reference; a flexible multi-level of actuation digital control system; digital tracking processors which incorporate real-time image analysis and a pulsed, diode-pumped solid state tracking laser.

1995, “The High Altituted Balloon Experiment Demonstration of Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing Technologies”, in Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports, page 2841:

To address this potential unsafe condistion and as an interim solution, EASA issued Emergency AD 2009-0012-E […] to require implementation of an aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) operation procdure, to isolate both the Inertial Reference (IR) and ADR in case a faulty IR is detected .

2013, Federal Register - Volume 78, Issue 220, page 68348:

(aviation, military) Any of various devices found in airplanes, missiles, satellites, guns, etc. that sense and calculate data such as linear acceleration and turning rate around each axis and which send that data on to other systems.


BINGO

(US, aviation slang, chiefly military, primarily of fuel) Alternative letter-case form of bingo (“just sufficient to return to base”)


range safety

(aviation, astronautics) The ensuring of the monitoring of the flight paths of missiles and launch vehicles, as well as the enforcement of strict guidelines for rocket construction and ground-based operations.


range safety system

en-noun

range safety system (plural range safety systems)

(aviation, astronautics) A system that reduces the risk to the public by ensuring flight safety by monitoring the flight paths of missiles and launch vehicles.


Initialism of jet propellant 7: a type of jet fuel for supersonic jet aircraft.


cargo aircraft

(aviation) A fixed-wing aircraft that is designed or converted for the carriage of cargo rather than passengers.


full-stop landing

full-stop landing (plural full-stop landings)

(aviation) A landing in which the aircraft comes to a full stop (rather than performing a go-around or touch-and-go).


non-forecast airlift

non-forecast airlift (plural not attested)

(military, aviation) A special flight that is tasked to meet an unpredicted desired effect.


super stall

(aviation, aeronautics) A type of stall, where airflow detaches not only from the main lifting wing, but also from the horizontal control surfaces of the tail and/or canard as well; resulting in loss of control over pitch and ineffectual elevators; being a stall of all the horizontal aerofoil surfaces of an aircraft.


en-route

(aviation) Alternative spelling of en route


landing roll

(aviation) The distance from the point of touchdown to the point of deceleration where the aircraft can be brought to a complete stop or exit the runway.


snap roll

(aviation, aeronautics) A type of maneuver in which an aircraft makes a sharp roll of 360° about its longitudinal axis.


rudder roll

(aeronautics, aviation) A type of aerial maneuver resembling the barrel roll but differs in that the application of backstick pressure is usually very high and that aileron input is held neutral throughout the maneuver.


variable sweep

(aviation, aeronautics) A type of sweep that can be varied during a flight according to certain requirements.


wing fence

(aviation, aeronautics) A fixed aerodynamic device attached to an aircraft wing.


vortex generator

vortex generator (plural vortex generators)

(aviation, aeronautics) An aerodynamic device, consisting of a small vane usually attached to a lifting surface (or airfoil, such as an aircraft wing) or a rotor blade of a wind turbine.


dual-capable aircraft

dual-capable aircraft (countable and uncountable, plural dual-capable aircrafts)

(aviation, military) Any type of aircraft that can perform both conventional and nuclear missions.


pickle switch

(aviation) A handheld electronic switch used for releasing bombs.


ghost plane

(aviation) An aeroplane that is flying after its pilots become incapacitated.


instrument flying

(aviation) Guiding an airplane based only on instruments in the control panel.


antiflap

(engineering, aviation) Preventing a component from flapping.


cageable

en-adj

cageable (comparative more cageable, superlative most cageable)

more cageable (comparative)
most cageable (superlative)

a cageable gyro

(aviation) Able to be caged, or immobilized.


VTOSL

(aviation) Abbreviation of vertical takeoff and short landing.


SVTOL

(aviation) Acronym of short vertical takeoff and landing.


V/STOVL

(military, aviation) Acronym of vertical/short takeoff and vertical landing.


Etihad

United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates

(aviation) Etihad Airways (one of the flag carrier airlines of the United Arab Emirates)


upgauge

en-verb

upgauge (third-person singular simple present upgauges, present participle upgauging, simple past and past participle upgauged)

upgauges (present singular third-person)
upgauging (participle present)
upgauged (participle past)
upgauged (past)

A flight is initially scheduled on a Boeing 737-800. Due to high demand, the airline might upgauge the flight to a Boeing 737-900, which has a larger passenger capacity.

They have proposed a scheme forcing airlines to upgauge the planes serving La Guardia. But at a capac ity constrained, slot-controlled airport like La Guardia, discriminating against regional aircraft could jeopardize service to countless, communities communities as large as Jacksonville, Knoxville, Columbus, Dayton, Louisville, Savannah and dozens more.

2007 September 28, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Subcommittee on Aviation, Airline Delays and Consumer Service: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Aviation of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, First Session, volume 4, U.S. Government Printing Office, →ISBN, pages 49-50:

Following the postpandemic recovery, pilot shortages have lead many airlines, especially in the United States, to upgauge (move from regional jets up to 100-plus set narrowbodies) their fleets.

2024, Vitaly Guzhva, Sunder Raghavan, Damon J. D'Agostino, Aircraft Leasing and Financing: Tools for Success in International Aircraft Acquisition and Management, 2 edition, Elsevier, →ISBN, page 36:

(aviation) What an airline does when it replaces an originally scheduled aircraft with a larger one of a similar type.