Learning to Fly: The Wright Brothers Adventure pdf - ER - NASA

Glossary of TermsAdverse yaw: When adverse yaw occurs, the nose of the plane turns left when the pilot intends it to turn right,and vice versa.Aerodynamics: A field of fluid dynamics that studies how gases, including air, flow and how forces act uponobjects moving through air.Aeronautics: The science of making and flying aircraft.Aft: Toward the rear of the aircraft.Aileron: The Wrights’ “wing-warping” technique was the forerunner to the modern “aileron,” which performsthe same function. An aileron is a hinged flap on the back edge of the wing of an airplane; it is moved up ordown in keeping the airplane steady or making a turn in the air. When flying straight and level, moving thecontrol stick to the right will raise the aileron on the right wing and lower the aileron on the left wing. This willcause the aircraft to roll to the right.Airfoil: The wing of an aircraft or something shaped like a wing, like the blades of a propeller.Aspect ratio: Ratio of wingspan to wing chord or width.Ballast: Something heavy to improve the stability and control of an aircraft or control the ascent of an airballoon.Balloon: A large bag or rubber sack that is filled with air or other gases that cause it to rise and float in the air.A balloon is a “lighter-than-air” aircraft.Camber: The convexity of the curve of an airfoil from the leading edge to the trailing edge.Canard: A small airfoil in front of the wing of an aircraft that increases the aircraft’s stability.Chord: The straight line distance joining the leading and trailing edges of an airfoil.Cockpit: A compartment in the front of the airplane from which the flight crew flies the aircraft.Drag: The retarding force acting on a body (like an airplane) moving through a fluid (like air) parallel andopposite to the direction of motion.Elevator: A part of the tail of an airplane that can be moved to control the airplane’s up or down motion, orpitch.Fuselage: The main structural body of an aircraft to which the wings and tail are attached.Glider: An aircraft that has no engine and is carried along by air currents.Heavier-than-air: A craft that needs power to become airborne and does not float by itself like an air balloon.Horsepower: A unit of measurement based on the power that a horse exerts in pulling.Learning to Fly: The Wright Brothers’ Adventure EG–2002–12–007–GRC75