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stability margin
one too fuel-rich and the other too weak, on ordinate
air/fuel ratio and abscissa mass flow.
stability margin See static margin.
stabilization 1 Positive action to maintain stability, esp.
of spacecraft or payload, when term invariably refers to
attitude. Passive * is any method requiring no sensing,
logic or power, eg gravity-gradient, spin and solarwind/aerodynamic
pressure. Semi-passive requires stored
momentum, eg gravity-gradient plus CMG. Semi-active
introduces limited thrust/torqueing, eg on one axis. Active
features sensing, logic and control about all axes. Hybrid
are systems with more than three degrees of freedom, eg
to control despun/gimballed/independent secondary
devices such as aerials or telescopes.
2 On starting engines of multi-engined aircraft, attainment
of steady rpm, EGT and other parameters on all
engines, usually prior to taxi.
stablized approach On glidepath at correct airspeed,
correctly configured, all checklists and paperwork
complete.
stabilized gyro Usually means aligned with a desired
direction, eg Earth centre, true N or magnetic meridian.
stabilized platform Invariably, platform maintained
always horizontal at any place on or near Earth, ie perpendicular
to local vertical.
stabilizer 1 Tailplane or slab horizontal tail (US).
2 Loosely, any fixed tail surface, including pressureinflated
fins of non-rigid airship or kite balloon Fin
normally prefaced by ‘vertical’ (US).
3 Low-density core (eg foamed-in-place plastics, balsa,
honeycomb) filling interior of secondary structure,
control surface, flap, door or similar structure.
4 Additives to retard chemical reactions.
5 Gyro subsystem to stabilize pivoted or gimballed
device, eg radar aerial.
6 Flame *.
stabilizing altitude Altitude at which actual rate of climb
is zero.
stabilizing floats Small seaplane-type floats mounted
well outboard under wing of flying boat or three-float
seaplane to provide roll stability when afloat.
stabilizing gears Small landing gear carried well
outboard (eg near or at tips of wing) of landplane with
centreline main gears to provide lateral stability on
ground, esp. when turning. Also called outriggers.
stabilizing parachute Used to stabilize fall of otherwise
unstable paradropped load.
Stabimatic Simple modular autopilot for GA, buildable
from wing-leveller using vacuum aileron input to fully
coupled 3-axis system capable of capturing desired FL.
stable An air force’s total front-line inventory of one
aircraft type [rarely, entire available inventory of all
types].
stable aerofoil Complete wing whose CP travel is very
small.
stable air Air mass in which actual lapse rate is less than
adiabatic lapse rate (dry or saturated, depending on
humidity), in extreme cases becoming negative (ie
inversion).
stable-base film Reconnaissance or scientific film of
extremely high dimensional stability.
stable equilibrium Body returns to original location after
being displaced.
stage
stable oscillation 1 Oscillation whose amplitude is
constant.
2 Oscillation whose amplitude decreases (BS).
stable platform See stabilized platform.
stable spread Standard attitude for minimum rate of
descent in sport parachuting: face-down, arms and legs
spread widely.
Stabo Anti-runway munition (G).
STAC Supersonic Transport Aircraft Committee (UK,
1956-62).
stack 1 Superimposed series of holding patterns, each at
assigned FL.
2 To assign to hold in *.
3 Piston-engine exhaust pipe, of any length or configuration
(US).
4 To assemble multi-stage launch vehicle (colloq.), and
vehicle thus assembled.
Staco Standing Committee for the Study of principles of
Standardization (ISO).
STacSAR Small tactical SAR (2).
Stadan Space tracking and data network. Previously
called Minitrack, there are fixed linear aerials at College,
AK; St John’s, Newfoundland; Goldstone, CA; E Grand
Forks, MN; Blossom Pt, MD; Ft Myers, FL; Quito,
Ecuador; Lima, Peru; Santiago, Chile; Winkfield,
England; Johannesburg, S Africa; and Woomera,
Australia. Large dishes are located at Fairbanks, AK;
Rosman, NC; and Canberra, Australia.
stadiametric aiming Optical aiming using lead angle
calculated from apparent size of target and aspect, using
various methods including subjective judgement (suggest
arch.).
stadiametric ranging Estimating target range from
knowledge of its true size.
stadiametric warning Based on range-closure derived
from apparent size of other body.
S-Tadil-J Satellite tactical digital intelligence link, joint.
STAé Service Technique Aéronautique (F).
Staff, STAFF 1 Smart target-activated fire-and-forget.
2 Spatio-temporal analysis of field fluctuation.
Staffel Squadron (G).
Staff-Pak Four interlinked laboratory modules
designed for installation in transport (C-130) to provide
electrically noise-free environment.
staff pilot Experienced military pilot assigned to special
duties, ie not with operational or training unit.
STA-54 Shuttle tile ablator, 54 lb/cu ft.
Stag Simultaneous telemetry and graphics.
stag Stagnation.
stage 1 One complete element of propulsion, jettisoned
(staged) when propellants are consumed (normally
applied to rocket). In a multi-* vehicle each * fires in
sequence following separation of predecessor to reduce
mass remaining.
2 One complete element of multi-* process, normally
compression or expansion, through which fluid is passed.
Passage through a single long diffuser, venturi or other
tapering duct is not * but use of several in succession
causes each to become one *.
3 One complete element of fluid-flow compressing or
expanding (eg power-extracting) device; eg one planar
assembly of compressor rotor blades and associated ring
of stator blades.
4 Sector (4) or, military, portion of air route between
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