the Aviation Dictionary

wing nut - A nut with two wing-like projections that
can be gripped with a thumb and forefinger and, thus,
turned by hand.
wing panel - A removable access panel or wing section
attached with screws, bolts, or rivets.
wing profile - The outline of the wing section.
wing rib - A structural member that gives a wing its
desired aerodynamic shape.
wing span - The distance from one wingtip to the other.
wing stations - Points measured from the centerline of
an aircraft (buttock line zero) toward the wing tip.
Indicates the distance in inches from the centerline.
wing strut - A diagonal brace between the fuselage and
the wing of a semi-cantilever wing.
wing tip vortices - The rapidly rotating air that spills
over an airplane's wings during flight. The intensity of
the turbulence depends on the airplane's weight, speed,
and configuration. Also referred to as wake turbulence.
wing tip vortices - Circular patterns of air created by
the movement of an airfoil through the air when
generating lift. As an airfoil moves through the
atmosphere in sustained flight, an area of low pressure
is created above it. The air flowing from the high
oressure area to the low pressure area around and about
the tips of the airfoil tends to roll up into two rapidly
rotating vortices, cylindrical in shape. These vortices
are the most predominant pds aircraft wake
turbulence and their rotational force is dependent upon
the wing loading, gross weight, and speed of the
aircraft. The vortices from medium to heavy
aircraft can be of extremely high velocity and
hazardous to smaller aircraft.
specific speed and angle of attack. Also referred to as
tip fins.
wingtip vortices - Circular patterns of air created by an
airfoil when generating lift. Vortices from medium to
heavy aircraft can be extremely hazardous to small
aircraft.
wink Zyglo - A non-destructive inspection method in
which the part to be inspected is sprayed with a
fluorescent penetrant liquid. The penetrant seeps into
any surface cracks in the part. The liquid is then
washed from its surface and the part is placed in a
vibrating fixture and observed under an ultraviolet
light. If the vibration causes a crack that contains the
penetrant to open and close, the black light - will
illuminate the penetrant and give the appearance of
winking each time the crack opens up to expose the
penetrant.
wiper - A movable electrical contact used in an
electrical component.
wire braid - A woven, flexible metal that covers an
aircraft's electrical wiring and is used to intercept and
ground any radiated electrical energy from the wire to
prevent radio frequency interference.
wire bundle - A group of electrical wires tied together
and secured to the structure.
wire cloth - A mesh woven of fine wire used for
filtering.
wire edge - A sham burr on the edge of
has been cut on a shear.
metal that
wire gauge - A gauge used to measure wire diameter.
wire group - Two or more wires going to the same
location and tied together to retain their identity.
wing twist - A change in the aerodynamic shape of a
wire mesh - In composites, a fine wire screen is used to
wing that effectively causes the outboard section of the
dissipate an electrical charge from lightning or static
wing to have less angle of attack than the inboard
buildup. It is used as lightning protection usually
sections. Wing twist allows the outboard section of the
directly under the top layer of fabric.
wing to avoid stalling at higher angles of attack,
allowing ailerons to effectively control the roll of the wire stripper -A tool designed to remove the insulation
aircraft.
from electrical wires.
- -
winelet - A short, almost vertical stabilizing fin
projecting from the tip of an aircraft wing. The winglet
alters the downwash that normally washes across the
wing's surface. This reduces induced drag and actually
provides a small amount of forward thrust. These two
effects more than cancel the parasitic drag of the
winglet and reduce the overall drag of the aircraft.
winglet - A design that nearly blocks or diffuses wing
tip vortices. Winglets are nearly vertical extensions on
the wingtips, which are actually carehlly designed,
proportioned, and positioned airfoils with their camber
toward the fuselage, and with span, taper, and aspect
ratio optimized to provide maximum benefit at a
Aircraft Technical Book Company
P.O. Box 270
Tabernash, CO 80478
http://w.ACTechbooks.com
wireless - British term for radio
wire-wound resistor - An electrical resistor made up of
a winding of high-resistance wire covered with
baked-on ceramic material.
wobble pump - A hand-operated fluid pressure pump.
The name wobble comes from the movement of the
pump handle back and forth as it pulls fluid into one
side of the pump and forces it out the other side.
woodruff key - A hardened piece of metal shaped in a
half circle on one side and flat on the other side. The
key fits into a semi-circular groove to secure a wheel,
disk, or gear to a shaft.