Dictionary Of Aeronautics

The new science of aeronautics has given rise to many new words, among
them some of awkward derivation, and even those properly formed and
worthy of preservation in the language are often erroneously used. The
following compact lexicon is therefore both interesting and instructive:

Aeroplane--A generic term applied in common use to all classes of
sustaining surfaces; strictly applicable only to flat surfaces.

Adjusting Surfaces--Commonly a comparatively small surface, usually at
the end of a wing tip, used to adjust lateral balance; preferably
restricted to surfaces capable of variable adjustment, but not of
movement by controlling devices. See Stabilizer' and Wing tip and
compare Aileron.

Advancing Edge--The front edge of a sustaining or other surface.

Advancing Surface--A surface that precedes another through the air, as
in a double monoplane.

Aerocurve--A proposed substitute for aeroplane.

Aerodrome--A substitute proposed by Langley for aeroplane. Strictly
applicable to a course rather than to a vehicle.

Aileron (a'ler-on)--A small hinged or separated wing tip or surface
capable of independent manipulation for the purpose of maintaining
lateral balance.

Aviation (a-vi-a'shun)--Dynamic flight by means of heavier-than-air
mechanisms.

Aviator (a'vi-a-ter)--The operator or pilot of a heavier-than-air
machine.

Aerofoil--Term used to indicate lifting surface,

Angle of Incidence--The angle which a line drawn from the leading to the
trailing edge of the plane makes with the horizontal trailing angle
between the tangent to the trailing edge of the plane and the chord or a
line drawn from the leading to the trailing edge.

Arc--Any portion of a circle or other curve.

Aspect--The top or plan view of an aeroplane surface.

Automatic Stability--Applied to lateral or longitudinal stability
maintained by the action of suitable elements on mechanisms independent
of any control exercised by the operator. There is a tendency to
restrict the term to such stability secured by automatic manipulation of
controlling devices, rather than to systems in which balance is
maintained by the use of dihedral arrangements.

Biplane (bi'plane)--An aeroplane with two superposed main surfaces.

Balance--To maintain equilibrium by hand or automatic movement of
balancing surfaces, as opposed to equilibrium maintained by stabilizing.
See Stabilizer.

Body--The center part of an aeroplane or other aerial vehicle, in which
the motor, fuel tanks, passenger accommodation, etc., are placed.

Camber--The camber of the ribs is the amount of curvature which is
imparted to them in the same way that a motor car spring or a road has a
camber or curvature.

Chassis (shas-see)--That part of the main framework of a monoplane to
which the main planes and tail planes are fitted and which contains the
engine and aviators seat.

Center of Pressure--Really a line of pressure along the under side of a
wing or aeroplane surface, on either side of which the pressures are
equal.

Center of Gravity--The center of weight, about which the vehicle
balances in all directions.

Chord--A straight line drawn between the ends of the arc of a circle or
other curve.

Dirigible (dir'-igihle)--Steerable or navigable; applied to balloons.

Derrick--A tower in which a falling weight is dropped in starting an
aeroplane.

Diagonal--A diagonal brace or stay in a framework.

Dihedral (di-he'dral)--Said of wing pairs inclined at an upward angle to
each other.

Elevator--A principal supplementary surface, usually of a miniature form
of the main planes. Used for purpose of altering the vertical direction
of machine.

Gap--The distance between two main planes in a biplane.

Gliding--Flying down a slant of air without power.

Gyroscopic Effect--The property of any rotating mass whereby it tends to
maintain its plane of rotation against disturbing forces.

Gauchissement (or warping)--Applied to the main planes and produces the
same ultimate effect as the use of ailerons.

Hangar (hang'ar)--A shed for housing balloons or aeroplanes, generally
the latter.

Horsepower--A rate of work equivalent to the lifting of 33,000 ft.-lb. a
minute.

Head Resistance--The resistance of a surface to movement through the
air; closely proportionate to its projected area.

Heavier-than-air--Applied to dynamic flying machines weighing more than
the air they displace.

Horizontal Rudder--A horizontally placed rudder for steering in vertical
directions.

Lift--The sustaining effect, expressed in units of weight of an
aeroplane or wing surface.

Monoplane--An aeroplane with one or more main surfaces in the same
horizontal plane.

Main Plane--Usually the largest or lowest supporting surface of a
multi-surfaced aeroplane.

Mast--A spar or strut used for the attachment of wire or other stays to
stiffen the wings or other parts of a structure.

Main Spars--Lateral spars upon which the main planes are built.

Main Landing Wheels--In an alighting gear, the wheels that take the
chief shock in landing.

Ornithopter--A dynamic flying machine of the heavier-than-air type, in
which sustension is provided by the effect of reciprocating wing
surfaces.

Pylon--A tower to mark the course in aerial racing contests.

Ribs--Supports for the fabric, made of ash or spruce and bent to the
correct curves.

Rudder--One or more steering planes are invariably fitted to practical
machines to control the direction of flight.

Superposed Planes--Arrangement of one plane over the other, as in the
Wright, Voisin and Farman machines.

Supplementary Planes (or surfaces)--Additional surfaces which are used
for stabilization.

Stabilizer--Any surface for automatically maintaining lateral or
longitudinal balance.

Struts--Fixtures used in biplane construction to maintain an equal
distance between two planes.

Skids--Long skates on which the machine can land in safety.

Span--The distance from tip to tip of the main planes in a transverse
direction to that of flight.

Soaring Flight--The flight of certain large birds without wing flapping.
Its solution and imitation constitute one of the problems of aerial
navigation.

Sustaining Surface--Any surface placed in a horizontal or approximately
horizontal position, primarily for the purpose of affording sustension.

Triplane--An aeroplane with three main surfaces.

Webs--Small blocks of wood placed between the ribs which act as distance
pieces.

Wing Warping--A system of maintaining lateral balance by differential
twisting of wing tips in such manner as to increase the sustension on
one side and decrease it on the other.

--New York Tribune.

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Dictionary Of Aeronautics