1Dk4eXg

socked-in
software
socked-in Airfield closed by weather, especially by fog
(colloq.).
Socom Special Operations Command (USA).
Socrates Sensor for optically characterizing remote [or
ring-eddy] turbulence emanating sound (FAA), i.e. laser
detection and plotting of turbulent wakes.
Socus South Continental US Loran chain.
SOD Satellite Operations Directorate.
Soda Statement of demonstrated ability.
Sodals Simplified omnidirectional approach-light
system.
Sodar Sonic detection and ranging, usually for wind
velocity and turbulence.
sodium Na [natrium], silvery reactive metal, density
0.97, MPt 98°C, vast range of compounds and used as
heat-transfer medium in piston-engine exhaust valves.
sodium acetate Soluble solid used as solid or liquid
deicer, principally for airfields.
sodium light Deep yellow, wavelength 589.6 nm,
approach lighting loosely called sodiums, same wavelength
for * line-reversal pyrometer.
SODP Start-of-deceleration point.
Sod’s law If a particular mechanism can malfunction,
soorer or later it will [see Murphy].
SOE 1 The Society of Engineers (UK, 1854–).
2 Supervised operator experience.
3 Solid oxide electrolyte [fuel cell].
SOF 1 Service Officiel Français (F).
2 Special Operations Force(s) (USAF, USA).
3 Stand-off flare (IRCM).
4 Strategic offensive forces.
5 Supervisor of flying.
6 Safety of flight [I adds issue].
7 Satellite Operations Facility (UK).
SOFA Status of forces agreement.
SOFAG Special-ops force assistance group (USAF).
Sofar Sound fixing and ranging, technique for fixing
position at sea by time-difference measures of sound from
explosion (eg of depth charge, usually at considerable
depth) or impact of spacecraft on surface. Hence * bomb,
special sound-producing bomb.
Sofats Special Operations Forces aircrew training
system.
SoFC School of Flying Control.
SOFI 1 Sprayed-on foam insulation.
2 See SOF (6).
Sofia Stratospheric observatory for IR astronomy.
Soflam Special operations forces laser marker.
Sofnet Solar observing and forecasting network (DoD,
1963-72).
Sofprep Special Operations Forces, planning, rehearsal
and execution preparation.
S of S Secretary of State, = minister (UK).
SOFT Site operational functional test.
Soft See soft keys.
soft Not hardened against NW explosion.
soft-blade propeller Made of wood, glass-fibre or other
abradable material.
soft bomb Bomb dropped for purpose other than
causing damage or casualties.
soft factor The proportion of announced orders [e.g., for
commercial aircraft] which eventually lead to cancellations
or deferrals.
soft failure 1 Usual interpretation is cessation of function
without any incorrect function (eg no hardover
signal).
2 In EDP, short-term transient failure followed by
return to normal; believed caused by alpha particles.
soft flutter Flutter that is possibly severe but non-divergent,
and confined within apparently safe amplitude
limits.
soft hail See snow pellets.
soft-in-plane Semi-rigid helicopter main rotor of
subcritical type, fundamental lag frequency being less
than N 1 (rotor rpm) at normal operating speed.
soft iron Iron containing little carbon, as distinct from
steel; loses nearly all magnetism when external field is
removed.
soft keys MFD keys which give direct pilot control of
individual system of other hardware items via databus.
Function of each is displayed by caption.
soft landing Gentle landing as distinct from hard (free
fall); term applies to arrival on surfaces other than Earth.
soft life TBO or similar period decided by operator and
varied according to own experience, instead of being
mandated by manufacturer or other authority.
soft obstacle 1 Conceptual obstacle, eg 35 ft screen.
2 One physically present, eg ILS localizer, but whose
engineering design minimizes damage to colliding
aircraft.
soft radiation Unable to penetrate more than 100 mm of
lead.
soft ride Ride, esp. in lo-flying aircraft at high-subsonic
speed, judged comfortable and in no way rough enough
to impair crew functions. Normally defined as fewer than
two 0.5 g bumps per minute (see LLDF). Occasionally
selected mode in TFR system.
SOFTS Special Operations Force[s] training system
(USA).
soft skin Composite structure which removes major
loads from outer skin and concentrates stresses or underlying
[usually under/over woven] fibre stiffeners.
soft target 1 Not hardened or armoured, such as house
or merchant ship.
2 In air-to-air firing practice, a sleeve or banner.
soft tooling Tooling whose dimensions can be adjusted,
normally within small limits (eg could not accommodate
different 707 fin sizes, which required new tooling).
soft undocking One that does not influence subsequent
trajectory, eg by not using separating thrusters.
soft valve Thermionic valve into which some air has
leaked.
software 1 All programs and component parts of
programs used in EDP (1), eg routines, assemblers,
compilers and narrators. Divided into two parts. Basic *,
usually provided by equipment manufacturer, is machineoriented
and is essential to permit or extend use of
particular hardware; examples are diagnostic programs,
compilers, I/O conversion routines and programs for file
or data-management. Application * is normally useroriented
and often compiled by user or a subscontracted
* house, to enable machine to handle specific tasks; may
include GP packages, eg NC tool, payroll or airline
booking, or locally created programs for highly specific
tasks, eg exploring flight characteristics of unbuilt
aircraft.
2 Ambiguously, also used for parachute or drogue
630