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airframe tuning
Arguably, includes assembler of aircraft from major
sections manufactured by partners.
airframe tuning Modifying the structure to move natural
frequencies [especially of the occupied regions of the fuselage]
away from the forcing frequencies of the propeller[s]
or rotar[s].
air/fuel ratio Ratio by mass of air to fuel in air-breathing
engine or other combustion system. With hydrocarbon
fuels ratio usually in neighbourhood of 16:1.
air gap 1 Clearance between stationary and moving
portions of electrical machine, crossed by magnetic flux.
2 Air space between poles of magnet.
3 Gap left in core of chokes and transformers used in
radio or radar circuits to prevent saturation by d.c.
air-gap Traditional type of piston-engine spark plug; or
gas-turbine igniter in which c25,000V is required to make
a spark jump through fuel/air mixture from electrode to
body.
airglow Quasi-steady radiation, visible at night, due to
chemi-luminescence in upper atmosphere energised by
solar radiation. Today often taken to embrace radiation
outside visible range.
air gunner Member of aircrew assigned, for whole or
part of mission, to manning guns to defend aircraft
[today’s nearest equivalent = DSO (2)].
air hardening Age hardening at room temperature.
airhead 1 Designated area in hostile or disputed territory
needed to sustain air landing; normally objective of
airborne assault.
2 Air supply and evacuation base in theatre of operations.
3 In undeveloped region, nearest usable airfield.
4 CTOL base for support of dispersed VTOL operation.
air hostess Stewardess.
air inlet, air intake Admits air to duct inside aircraft, esp.
to engine.
air interception Radar or visual contact between a
friendly and another aircraft.
air interdiction Air attack on enemy forces sufficiently
far from friendly forces for integration with the latter not
to be required; esp. attack on enemy supply routes rather
than theatre forces. Differs from BAI in that it interferes
with enemy’s major operational movement and prevents
movement of forces into battle area.
air lag See lag.
air/land warfare Simultaneous warfare on land and in
airspace above.
air launch Release from aircraft of self-propelled or
aerodynamically lifted object: missile, target or other
aircraft (manned or RPV) previously attached to it (not
towed).
The Air League UK air-minded association; not abb,
founded 1909, in 1932–70 added : of the British Empire
[office, London SW1H 9NS] (UK).
air lever On early aeroplanes, hand throttle governing
engine airflow (not fuel) See fine adjustment..
air liaison officer Tactical air force or naval aviation
officer attached to surface forces.
airlift 1 Carriage by air of load, esp. by means other
than routine airline operation.
2 Transport operation (usually military) in which
aircraft make round-trip flights to transport large load
such as army division or refugee population.
Airmen Advisory
3 Continuing, open-ended logistic supply operation,
such as Berlin *, 1948–49.
airlifter Aeroplane [usually large] designed primarily for
cargo, esp. military.
airline 1 Certificated air carrier.
2 Public image of air carrier, created by house logo,
aircraft livery and advertising, even where no such single
carrier may exist.
3 Any great-circle route.
4 Ground supply pipe conveying air at typically 80
lb/in 2 .
airline quality rating Monthly scores of passenger satisfaction
for largest US carriers.
airliner Not defined, but generally applied to large
passenger aircraft operated by scheduled carrier; usage
UK rather than US and becoming dated.
air load Aggregate force exerted on surface by relative
airflow. In case of aerofoil or control surface, force
exerted on three-dimensional entity, not on just one of its
surfaces.
air lock 1 Small chamber through which personnel must
pass to enter or leave larger chamber maintained at
atmospheric pressure significantly different from
ambient. Provided with two doors in series, never more
than one door being open at a time.
2 Unwanted volume of air or other gas trapped at high
point in liquid system in such a way as to prevent or
degrade proper operation.
air log Instrument for measuring air distance flown.
air mail Mail prepaid and sent by air where there is an
alternative, cheaper surface route. European letters and
postcards travel by air if this speeds delivery; no separate
** service.
Airman Aircraft maintenance analysis.
airman 1 Loosely, any aviator, aeronaut or man who
navigates by air.
2 Tradesman certificated by appropriate licensing
authority to work on aircraft.
3 Air force rank category (but not a rank) below NCO,
equivalent to Army ‘other ranks’.
4 (Capital A) lowest uniformed rank in USAF, with
class subdivisions.
Air Maneuver Buzzword suggesting helicopters can
have an effect in rapid battlefield movement (UK but US
spelling).
airmanship Skill in piloting aircraft. Embraces not only
academic knowledge but also qualities of common sense,
quick reaction, awareness and experience. RAF view:
“ask 100 pilots to define, will get 100 different answers.”
Air Marshal Armed Federal officer riding incognito as
ordinary passenger on flights by US carriers to deter
terrorism. In view of prior existence of RAF rank, confusion
would be reduced by standardizing on
Sky-Marshal.
air mass Very large parcel of atmosphere which at lower
levels exhibits almost uniform characteristics of temperature
and humidity at any given level. According to
Bergeron classification, grouped according to origin
(Arctic, Polar, Tropical, Equatorial), subdivided into
Continental or Maritime within each group, and then
again into warm (w) or cold (k).
Airmec International Aircraft Maintenance and
Engineering Exhibition and Conference.
Airmen Advisory Notice to Airmen (see NOTAM)
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