Aircraft

Aircraft

Any machine or device that is capable of atmospheric flight either by buoyancy or by the movement of air over its surfaces.

Industry: Aviation

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Aircraft

horsepower

Aviation; Aircraft

The term, originated by inventor James Watt, means the amount of work a horse could do in one second. One horsepower equals 550 foot-pounds per second, or 33,000 foot-pounds per minute.

A system whereby the heading gyro is “slaved to,” or continuously corrected to bring its direction readings into agreement with a remotely located magnetic direction sensing device (usually a flux ...

ailerons

Aviation; Aircraft

Primary flight control surfaces mounted on the trailing edge of an airplane wing, near the tip. Ailerons control roll about the longitudinal axis.

hot start

Aviation; Aircraft

In gas turbine engines, a start which occurs with normal engine rotation, but exhaust temperature exceeds prescribed limits. This is usually caused by an excessively rich mixture in the combustor. ...

slipping turn

Aviation; Aircraft

An uncoordinated turn in which the aircraft is banked too much for the rate of turn, so the horizontal lift component is greater than the centrifugal force, pulling the aircraft toward the inside of ...

air data computer (ADC)

Aviation; Aircraft

An aircraft computer that receives and processes pitot pressure, static pressure, and temperature to calculate very precise altitude, indicated airspeed, true airspeed, and air temperature.

human factors

Aviation; Aircraft

A multidisciplinary field encompassing the behavioral and social sciences, engineering, and physiology, to consider the variables that influence individual and crew performance for the purpose of ...