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Windpads
2 WW2 code for frequency-cut metal reflective slivers,
wire, foil etc that later became better known by US name
chaff (ECM).
3 Launch opportunity, defined as unique and possibly
brief time period in which spacecraft can be launched
from its particular site and accomplish its mission; usually
recurring after a matter of days to months.
4 Small band of wavelengths in EM spectrum to which
Earth atmosphere is transparent; there are many such,
though together they account for only small part of total
spectrum, rest being blocked. Like (3) this meaning rests
on * being a small transparent gap in a dark continuum.
5 Verb, to enlarge local part of drawing or graphic
display, usually to show greater detail.
Windpads Wind-profile precision air-delivery system
(para-drop accuracy, USAF).
WINDR Wind direction.
wind rose Polar plot for fixed station showing frequency
of winds and strengths over given (long) period from
000°–359°.
wind rotor Multi-blade rotor for forced aircooling of
landing-wheel brake, of which it forms part.
Winds Wideband intermetworking engineering, test and
demonstration satellite (J).
winds aloft US term for upper winds.
windscreen Windows through which pilot(s) look ahead,
called windshield in US. Originally on open-cockpit aeroplanes
complete assembly of frame and windows ahead of
pilot’s head. On modern flight deck less obvious and
generally replaced by such term as flight deck
windows/transparencies/fenestration, which includes side
and roof (eyebrow) windows.
windscreen wiper Term confined to mechanical devices
with oscillating blades; rotary-disc and air-blast (eg for
rain-shedding) excluded.
windshear Exceptionally large local wind gradient.
Originally defined as ‘change of wind velocity with
distance along an axis at right angles to wind direction,
specified vertical or horizontal’ (BSI), which is same as
wind gradient. Today recognized as extremely dangerous
phenomenon because encountered chiefly at low altitude
(in squall or local frontal systems) in approach configuration
at speed where * makes sudden and potentially
disastrous difference to airspeed and thus lift. In practice
pilot must take into account air movement in vertical
plane (see downburst) because sudden encounter with
downward gust is more serious than mere fall-off in headwind.
Often accompanied by severe turbulence and
precipitation which can make traditional ASI under-read.
windshear indicator Modern electronic displays will
show * situation well, but with traditional instruments an
extra dial is avoided by adding an energy-rate pointer to
VSI; this striped needle is driven by combined verticalspeed
rate and rate of change of airspeed to show rate of
change of aircraft energy. Pilot can readily work throttles
to keep this needle coincident with VSI needle.
windshield See windscreen.
windshield guidance display Optical projector in
glareshield giving HUD-type ground-roll guidance after
blind (Cat IIIB) touchdown.
wind shift Sudden change in wind direction.
wind sleeve See next.
windsock Traditional fabric sleeve hung from mast to
give rough indication of local wind strength/direction;
wing area
also called wind sleeve, wind cone. Inlet called throat or
mouth.
wind star Plot for determining wind by drawing drifts
measured on two headings (US, arch.).
wind tee White T-shaped indicator displayed in signals
area to show pilots wind direction; also called wind T. See
tee.
wind tetrahedron US counterpart of wind T (which is
also used in US): large pyramid shape indicating wind
direction, rotated on pedestal.
wind tunnel Any of family of devices in which fluid is
pumped though duct to flow past object under test. Duct
can be closed circuit or open at both ends. Working
section, containing body under test, can be closed or open
(called open jet). Fluid can be air at any temperature/
pressure or various other gases or vapours. Operation can
be continuous, intermittent or as brief as a millisec.
Particular species is spinning tunnel.
wind-tunnel balance Apparatus for measuring forces
and moments on object tested in tunnel; originally
included actual mounting for object but today usually
electrical force-transducers built into sting.
wind-tunnel stability axes Considered more helpful term
than mere ‘stability axes’ for data from tunnels.
windup Integrator saturation in a digital flight-control
system.
wind-up turn Turn by winged aerodyne that becomes
ever-tighter [rhymes with mind].
wind vane Small pivoted blade which aligns itself with
local airflow; usually drives via rotary viscous damper to
one or more precision potentiometers to form a flowangle
transmitter for AOA (pivoting on horizontal axis)
or yaw.
windy drill Workshop tool driven by high-pressure air
(colloquial).
wing 1 Main supporting surface of fixed-* aerodyne;
despite term ‘rotating-* aircraft’ not used in that context,
usual word for rotating supporting aerofoils being blade.
Normally taken to cover all parts within main aerofoil
envelope, including all movable surfaces. Many terms, eg
* jig, * structure, are judged self-explanatory.
2 Numerous types of military unit, eg in RAF basic
combat administration organization comprising perhaps
three squadrons, often all sharing same base, but in US
usually a larger unit comprising one or more groups with
support organizations, in Navy a self-contained unit for
deployment of organic air power at sea (one * per carrier)
or land, and in Marines those aviation elements for
support of one division.
3 Extreme left or right of battlefront or aerial
formation.
4 To be positioned on *, to be alongside in formation
(see wingman).
5 To fly (colloq.).
wing area 1 Area of surface encompassed by planview
outline drawn along leading and trailing edges, including
all movable surfaces in cruise configuration, and
including areas of fuselage, nacelles or other bodies
enclosed by lines joining intersections of leading or
trailing edges with such bodies. One expression is
S = ∫ b / 2
c.dy where b is span, c chord at distance y across
–b / 2
lateral axis. Thus, pods hung below wing are excluded;
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