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

moment arm

Aviation; Aircraft

The distance from a datum to the applied force.

vertical speed indicator (VSI)

Aviation; Aircraft

A rate-of-pressure change instrument that gives an indication of any deviation from a constant pressure level.

Hinged portion of the trailing edge between the ailerons and fuselage. In some aircraft ailerons and flaps are interconnected to produce full-span “flaperons.” In either case, flaps change the lift ...

reference circle (also, distance circle)

Aviation; Aircraft

The circle depicted in the plan view of an IAP chart that typically has a 10 NM radius, within which chart the elements are drawn to scale.

configuration

Aviation; Aircraft

This is a general term, which normally refers to the position of the landing gear and flaps.

moment index

Aviation; Aircraft

A moment divided by a constant such as 100, 1,000, or 10,000. The purpose of using a moment index is to simplify weight and balance computations of airplanes where heavy items and long arms result in ...