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latching indicator
latching indicator Instrument giving visual indication of
security of door locks and pressure seals.
late-arming switch Sub-circuit in aircraft weaponcontrol
system, enabling arming of weapons or firing
circuits to be left until moment of firing.
latency 1 Delay in response of flight-simulator motion
platform.
2 Delay between gathering intelligence and using it.
3 Time lag between satcom transmission and reception.
latent heat Absorbed or emitted when material changes
physical state.
lateral axis Transverse OY axis, axis of pitch rotation.
lateral clinometer See cross-level.
lateral-control criterion Helix angle, described by
wingtip in max-rate aileron roll: pb/2V where p is roll rate,
b span and V airspeed.
lateral-control departure parameter One method of
studying loss or reversal of control in roll, for adverse yaw
or other reason.
lateral datum The transverse line passing through c.g. =
lateral axis.
lateral deviation Error in radio D/F caused by reflections
or refractions.
lateral divergence Traditionally, a combination of roll,
yaw and sideslip which precedes a spin, or accelerating
spiral descent.
lateral force Forces acting parallel to line joining
wingtips.
lateral gain Width of fresh ground covered by each
photo-reconnaissance run over area.
lateral qualities Behaviour in roll.
lateral oscillation One involving periodic roll, invariably
with yaw and sideslip.
lateral-rotor helicopter Main lifting rotors side-by-side.
lateral separation Distance between parallel tracks of
aircraft at same FL.
lateral stability Stability in roll (secondarily, yaw and
sideslip), measured by studying phugoid oscillation (stick
free or fixed) following roll disturbance.
lateral translation Manoeuvre possible with directforce-control
aircraft in which lateral velocity is
commanded without change in heading.
lateral velocity Speed component, usually relative to
surrounding air, along line parallel to OY axis.
lateral tell Communication of air surveillance and air
target data sideways to other units along front.
late turn One initiated at or after fix passage at
waypoint.
Latex Laser assoocié à une tourelle experimentale (F).
Latis Lightweight airborne thermal imaging system.
Latisha Laser analysis and testing for intelligence,
surveillance and hybrid applications (USAF).
latitude band Between two parallels of latitude around
Earth.
latitude nut Screwed in or out on directional gyro (DI)
to correct drift due to Earth rotation N or S of Equator.
LATN Low-altitude tactical navigation area.
latr Compass locator.
LATS 1 Launcher automatic test set (Varo).
2 Large-aperture tracking system.
lattice fin A misnomer, not a fin but a powered control
surface featuring a rectilinear criss-cross of flat surfaces.
Also called trellis control.
layered defence
launch In addition to obvious, also take-off of manned
combat mission.
launch bar Towing link between catapult and nose leg.
launch complex Entire ground facilities for launch of
large space vehicle, probably including facilities for integration.
launch control centre Manned room in launch complex
from which countdown and launch, and possibly whole
mission, are monitored and controlled.
launch cost 1 Sum charged for placing customer’s
payload in desired orbit.
2 Nominal sum estimated, but not necessarily available,
for design, development, construction and test of
new major aircraft or engine; usually to certification in
country of origin.
launch cycle Typically 105 min, average time between
launch and recovery for carrier aircraft; AEW/ASW can
be launched for a double cycle.
launcher 1 Interface unit between aircraft and externally
or internally carried store, not necessarily with propulsion.
2 Container of tubes for firing unguided rockets,
carried as external store or as retractable box.
3 Pad or other structure for land- or ship-based missile,
space vehicle, RPV or other unmanned free-flight device.
launch escape Ability of human crew to escape from
slow-acceleration ballistic vehicle during countdown or in
first seconds of flight, thus ** tower, ** motors, ** signal.
launch opportunity Period in which all factors, including
launch window, local weather and serviceability of all
participating systems, is favourable.
launch pad Platform with GSE for launch of ballistic
vehicle; normally a fixed installation.
launch reliability Percentage of planned missions on
which combat aircraft took off on time.
launch time Actual time for start of mission, esp. for
large vehicle or ICBM, or strategic bomber already on
runway with NW on board.
launch vehicle Vehicle providing propulsion for space
payload or, rarely, atmospheric free-flight device; may be
winged or ballistic but must lift off from Earth and impart
nearly all impulse required.
launch window Exactly defined period during which
relative positions and velocities of Earth and other bodies
are such that a particular interplanetary mission can be
launched, may last minutes to days, and may be a unique
opportunity or repeated at intervals.
LAV Least absolute value.
LAW Light anti-tank (or anti-armour) weapon.
LAWM Lashenden Air Warfare Museum (UK).
LAWRS Limited aviation weather reporting station.
LAWS 1 Light aircraft warning system (UK Met.
Office).
2 Lightweight aerial warning system (US).
LAX 1 Limited-area automatic extraction.
2 Single noise event; more precisely L AX ; see noise.
lay 1 Adjust aim of weapon in azimuth, elevation or
both (obs.).
2 Spread aerial smokescreen.
3 Calculate or project course (obs.).
laydown Release free-fall bombs in level flight at low
altitude.
layer Either of two ionised shells around Earth, called E
and F, which see.
layered defence 1 System for protecting fixed-base
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