The Aeroplane Speaks [52]
correct to calibrate it in units of air pressure.
Air Pocket--A local movement or condition of the air causing an aeroplane to drop or lose its correct attitude.
Aspect-Ratio--The proportion of span to chord of a surface.
Air-Screw (Propeller)--A surface so shaped that its rotation about an axis produces a force (thrust) in the direction of its axis.
Aileron--A controlling surface, usually situated at the wing-tip, the operation of which turns an aeroplane about its longitudinal axis; causes an aeroplane to tilt sideways.
Aviation--The art of driving an aeroplane.
Aviator--The driver of an aeroplane.
Barograph--A recording barometer, the charts of which can be calibrated for showing air density or height.
Barometer--An instrument used for indicating the density of air.
Bank, to--To turn an aeroplane about its longitudinal axis (to tilt sideways) when turning to left or right.
Biplane--An aeroplane of which the main lifting surface consists of a surface or pair of wings mounted above another surface or pair of wings.
Bay--The space enclosed by two struts and whatever they are fixed to.
Boom--A term usually applied to the long spars joining the tail of a ``pusher'' aeroplane to its main lifting surface.
Bracing--A system of struts and tie wires to transfer a force from one point to another.
Canard--Literally ``duck.'' The name which was given to a type of aeroplane of which the longitudinal stabilizing surface (empennage) was mounted in front of the main lifting surface. Sometimes termed ``tail-first'' aeroplanes, but such term is erroneous, as in such a design the main lifting surface acts as, and is, the empennage.
Cabre--To fly or glide at an excessive angle of incidence; tail down.
Camber--Curvature.
Chord--Usually taken to be a straight line between the trailing and leading edges of a surface.
Cell--The whole of the lower surface, that part of the upper surface directly over it, together with the struts and wires holding them together.
Centre (Line) of Pressure--A line running from wing-tip to wing-tip, and through which all the air forces acting upon the surface may be said to act, or about which they may be said to balance.
Centre (Line) of Pressure, Resultant--A line transverse to the longitudinal axis, and the position of which is the resultant of the centres of pressure of two or more surfaces.
Centre of Gravity--The centre of weight.
Cabane--A combination of two pylons, situated over the fuselage, and from which anti-lift wires are suspended.
Cloche--Literally ``bell.'' Is applied to the bell-shaped construction which forms the lower part of the pilot's control lever in a Bleriot monoplane, and to which the control cables are attached.
Centrifugal Force--Every body which moves in a curved path is urged outwards from the centre of the curve by a force termed ``centrifugal.''
Control Lever--A lever by means of which the controlling surfaces are operated. It usually operates the ailerons and elevator. The ``joy-stick".
Cavitation, Propeller--The tendency to produce a cavity in the air.
Distance Piece--A long, thin piece of wood (sometimes tape) passing through and attached to all the ribs in order to prevent them from rolling over sideways.
Displacement--Change of position.
Drift (of an aeroplane as distinct from the propeller)--The horizontal component of the reaction produced by the action of driving through the air a surface inclined upwards and towards its direction of motion PLUS the horizontal component of the reaction produced by the ``detrimental'' surface PLUS resistance due to ``skin-friction.'' Sometimes termed ``head-resistance.''
Drift, Active--Drift produced by the lifting surface.
Drift, Passive--Drift produced by the detrimental surface.
Drift (of a propeller)--Analogous to the drift of an aeroplane. It is convenient to include ``cavitation'' within this term.
Drift, to--To be carried by a current of air; to make leeway.
Dive, to--To descend so steeply as to produce a speed greater than the normal
Air Pocket--A local movement or condition of the air causing an aeroplane to drop or lose its correct attitude.
Aspect-Ratio--The proportion of span to chord of a surface.
Air-Screw (Propeller)--A surface so shaped that its rotation about an axis produces a force (thrust) in the direction of its axis.
Aileron--A controlling surface, usually situated at the wing-tip, the operation of which turns an aeroplane about its longitudinal axis; causes an aeroplane to tilt sideways.
Aviation--The art of driving an aeroplane.
Aviator--The driver of an aeroplane.
Barograph--A recording barometer, the charts of which can be calibrated for showing air density or height.
Barometer--An instrument used for indicating the density of air.
Bank, to--To turn an aeroplane about its longitudinal axis (to tilt sideways) when turning to left or right.
Biplane--An aeroplane of which the main lifting surface consists of a surface or pair of wings mounted above another surface or pair of wings.
Bay--The space enclosed by two struts and whatever they are fixed to.
Boom--A term usually applied to the long spars joining the tail of a ``pusher'' aeroplane to its main lifting surface.
Bracing--A system of struts and tie wires to transfer a force from one point to another.
Canard--Literally ``duck.'' The name which was given to a type of aeroplane of which the longitudinal stabilizing surface (empennage) was mounted in front of the main lifting surface. Sometimes termed ``tail-first'' aeroplanes, but such term is erroneous, as in such a design the main lifting surface acts as, and is, the empennage.
Cabre--To fly or glide at an excessive angle of incidence; tail down.
Camber--Curvature.
Chord--Usually taken to be a straight line between the trailing and leading edges of a surface.
Cell--The whole of the lower surface, that part of the upper surface directly over it, together with the struts and wires holding them together.
Centre (Line) of Pressure--A line running from wing-tip to wing-tip, and through which all the air forces acting upon the surface may be said to act, or about which they may be said to balance.
Centre (Line) of Pressure, Resultant--A line transverse to the longitudinal axis, and the position of which is the resultant of the centres of pressure of two or more surfaces.
Centre of Gravity--The centre of weight.
Cabane--A combination of two pylons, situated over the fuselage, and from which anti-lift wires are suspended.
Cloche--Literally ``bell.'' Is applied to the bell-shaped construction which forms the lower part of the pilot's control lever in a Bleriot monoplane, and to which the control cables are attached.
Centrifugal Force--Every body which moves in a curved path is urged outwards from the centre of the curve by a force termed ``centrifugal.''
Control Lever--A lever by means of which the controlling surfaces are operated. It usually operates the ailerons and elevator. The ``joy-stick".
Cavitation, Propeller--The tendency to produce a cavity in the air.
Distance Piece--A long, thin piece of wood (sometimes tape) passing through and attached to all the ribs in order to prevent them from rolling over sideways.
Displacement--Change of position.
Drift (of an aeroplane as distinct from the propeller)--The horizontal component of the reaction produced by the action of driving through the air a surface inclined upwards and towards its direction of motion PLUS the horizontal component of the reaction produced by the ``detrimental'' surface PLUS resistance due to ``skin-friction.'' Sometimes termed ``head-resistance.''
Drift, Active--Drift produced by the lifting surface.
Drift, Passive--Drift produced by the detrimental surface.
Drift (of a propeller)--Analogous to the drift of an aeroplane. It is convenient to include ``cavitation'' within this term.
Drift, to--To be carried by a current of air; to make leeway.
Dive, to--To descend so steeply as to produce a speed greater than the normal