A: Alpha.

A/A: See Air-to-Air.

AAA: Anti-Aircraft Artillery.

AAM: Air-to-Air Missile.

AAW: Anti-Air Warfare.

AB: See Afterburner.

ABSOLUTE: A standard, fixed reference, as opposed to moving reference.

A-C: Pilot jargon referring to the border between Argentina and Chile.

ACCELERATION: Rate of change of velocity, either scalar or vector, often with subscripts such as ENU or XYZ to denote the coordinate frame; time derivative of velocity; time integral of jerk; Symbols: a, A; Typical Units: ft/s-squared, g; Dimensions: Length / Time-squared.

ACCELEROMETER: An inertial device for measuring acceleration, usually in three orthogonal axes (lateral X, longitudinal Y, and vertical Z); accelerometers usually consist of a mass, spring, and damper.

ACL: Automatic Carrier Landing.

ACLS: Automatic Carrier Landing System.

ACM: Air Combat Maneuvering. Generally refers to flight maneuvering.

ACQ: Acquisition.

ACT: Air Combat Tactics. Generally refers to flight tactics.

ACUTE: The opposite of "Sucked." To be in a position too far forward in the formation or on a bearing (angle) that would place the aircraft too far forward during rendezvous, creating an uncomfortable closure rate and angle for the joining aircraft; vis. an "acute" rendezvous bearing as compared to a "Sucked' rendezvous bearing.

ADI: Attitude Director Indicator.

AERODYNAMICS: The study of motions and forces of gases on an object.

AERONAUTICS: A word that came from the Greek word for "air" and "to sail;" the study of flight and the operation of aircraft

AEW: Airborne Early Warning Aircraft.

AFCS: Automatic Flight Control System.

AFT: The rear of a ship. Also known as Stern.

AFTERBURNER: The section of a gas turbine engine used in military aircraft that produces additional thrust by spraying raw fuel into the exhaust and igniting it.

A/G: See Air-to-Ground.

ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL): Distance of the aircraft above the ground Synonyms: radar altitude.

(AGR) SLANT RANGE: Straight-line distance from the aircraft to a point on the ground.

AHRS: Attitude Heading Reference System.

AIC: Airborne Intercept Control.

AILERONS: Small flaps on the wings which can be extended on takeoff to increase the size of the wings and thus give the aircraft maximum lift.

AILERON ROLL: A maneuver whereby the aircraft rolls about its axis of flight induced solely by the use of ailerons.

AIMING RETICULE: An optical image used to aim weapons when using the HUD. It is also known as Pipper.

AIR BOSS: Officer in control of the hangar and flight decks on carrier.

AIR BRAKE: See Speedbrake.

AIRCRAFT: Any weight-carrying structure for navigation of the air, designed to be supported either by its own buoyancy or by the dynamic action of the air against its surfaces.

AIRFOIL: Any surface, such as a wing or a rudder, designed to obtain reaction upon its surfaces from the air through which it moves.

AIR-MASS FLIGHT PATH ANGLE: Angle in vertical plane of earth speed vector and ground speed vector; occasional definition for flight path angle; Compare: earth-referenced flight path angle; Symbols: gamma sub A; Typical Units: rad, deg.

AIR PRESSURE: The weight of air pressing on a surface.

AIRSPEED: The velocity of an aircraft as compared to the surrounding air.

AIRSPEED INDICATOR: An instrument which measures the speed of the aircraft. an instrument which measures the speed of the aircraft.

AIR-TO-AIR: Generally refers to a form of combat or a type of weapon. Most frequently used to describe a missile launched from an airplane with the intention of destroying another airplane or missile. Also known as A/A.

AIR-TO-GROUND: Generally refers to a form of combat or a type of weapon. Most frequently used to describe a missile or bomb launched from an airplane with the intention of destroying target on the surface. Also known as A/G.

AIR-TO-GROUND TARGETING: The technique of locating a ground target and delivering weapons to it.

ALPHA: The designation used for a mission wing which will be escorting and protecting planes (like AWACS) from enemy fighters.

ALTIMETER: An instrument which tells the pilot how high the plane is above sea level.

AM: See AMRAAM.

AMRAAM: An active-radar, medium range, air-to-air missile, this weapon has its own radar system and built-in inertial navigation system. The AMRAAM is the successor to the earlier Sparrow missile. Also known as AM.

ANGLE OF APPROACH: The angle representing the ratio between ground speed and decreasing altitude. It is most often used in landing an aircraft. Also known as Glide slope.

ANGLE OF ATTACK: The difference between pitch and the air-referenced flight path angle; the angle between the aircraft center line and the airspeed vector in the vertical plane, positive when the nose is up; Symbols: alpha; Typical Units: rad, deg; Also known as AOA.

ANGLE OF CLIMB: The angle representing the ratio between ground speed and increasing altitude. In its simplest terms, it is the angle of the planes nose above the horizon.

ANGLE OF DESCENT: Similar to Angle of Approach, but it is typically used in ir-to-ground ordinance delivery.

ANGELS: Pilot jargon to denote the altitude of aircraft in thousands of feet.

ANGULAR ACCELERATION: Rate of change of angular velocity, either scalar or vector, often with subscripts such as XYZ to denote the coordinate frame; time derivative of angular position; time integral of angular acceleration; Symbols: alpha; Typical Units: rad/s-squared; Dimensions: 1/Time-squared.

ANGULAR POSITION: Amount of rotation about an axis, either scalar or vector, often with subscripts such as XYZ to denote the coordinate frame; time integral of angular velocity; Synonyms: angle; Symbols: theta; Typical Units: rad, deg.

ANGULAR VELOCITY: Rate of change of rotation about an axis, either scalar or vector, often with subscripts such as XYZ to denote the coordinate frame; time derivative of angular position; time integral of angular acceleration; See Also: tachometer; Symbols: omega; Typical Units: rad/s, rpm; Dimensions: 1/Time.

AOA: See Angle Of Attack.

AON: Angle Off the Nose.

AOT: Angle Off the Tail.

APPROACH: The final flight path of an airplane that is landing.

ARRESTOR HOOK: A large steel bar with protrusion to "catch "an arrestor cable used to stop an aircraft as it lands on an aircraft carrier. Also known as a Tail Hook.

ABOVE SEA LEVEL (ASL): Distance of the aircraft above mean sea level.

ASPECT: The orientation of an aircraft as viewed from another. Important in targeting weapons.

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC): Standard aviation term.

ASR: Air Surveillance Radar.

ASW: Anti-Submarine Warfare.

ATDC: Airborne Tactical Data Control.

ATDS: Airborne tactical Data System.

ATTITUDE: The primary aircraft angles in the state vector; pitch, roll, and yaw.

AUTO: Generally refers to the activation of an automated system.

AUTOPILOT: Computerized electronic system which can fly the plane, adjust course and land without manual control by the pilot.

AVIONICS: A general terms for the airplane ’s electronic systems.

AWACS: Airborne Weapons And Control System.

AXIS: One direction in an orthogonal reference frame.

AZIMUTH: An angle in the horizontal plane, usually measured with respect to body coordinates.

B: Bravo.

BALLISTIC MISSILE: A surface-to-surface missile whose warheads are delivered by a short lived boost into a low, semi-orbit.

BANDIT: An airplane identified as hostile.

BANK: When an aircraft rolls to one side.

BANK ANGLE: The angle between the horizontal plane and the right wing in the lateral plane, positive when the right wing is down; Synonyms: roll; Symbols: phi, Phi; Typical Units: rad, deg.

BARCAP: See Barrier Combat Air Patrol. BARRIER COMBAT AIR PATROL Mission type instructing the pilot to engage any aircraft crossing into his patrol zone. This order is used to protect a corridor through which friendly bombers will pass on their way toward a target.

BARREL ROLL: A large rolling maneuver induced by aileron and rudder.

BEARING: The horizontal angle on the lead as flown by the #2 aircraft. (If the wingman were to overrun his leader and fly too far forward of a proper position, he would be on an "acute bearing." If he is too far aft of his proper position, he is on a "sucked bearing."

BER: Bearing. See Heading.

BETA: The designation used for a mission wing which will be bombing a ground target.

BFM: Basic Fighter Maneuvers.

BINGO FUEL: The fuel state at which the flight must return to base. A predetermined fuel figure remaining in gallons, pounds, or minutes which will allow sale return to base plus sufficient overhead reserve. When the wingman signals bingo fuel, the leader acknowledges and heads for base.

BLACKOUT: The loss of vision or consciousness which may occur when a pilot pulls too many positive Gs. It is caused by an insufficient blood supply to the head.

BLIP: A small dot which appears on a pilot ’s radar. Each blip represents an aircraft or launched weapon.

BOGEY: An unidentified airborne intruder.

BOLTER: When an aircraft misses all of the arresting cables during a carrier landing which resulted in an unintentional touch and go.

BOMBSIGHT: A physical or optical indicator for aiming free-fall weapons.

BOW: The front of a ship. Also known as Fore.

BREAK TURN: A maneuver accomplished by rolling the airplane 90 degrees and pulling back on the stick.

BRG: Bearing.

BUG OUT: Quickly leave the area of an engagement.

BVR: Beyond Visual Range.

C: Charlie.

C3: Command, Control and Communications.

CALLSIGN: The code word or words that designate a flight, usually selected by the flight leader for that particular mission. The flight then would be designated (In the case of a call sign of "Red Flight") as: "Red Lead," "Red Two," "Red Three', and "Red Four." In the case of large formations divided into flights, the flights might be divided as follows, Red. Blue, Yellow, etc or Alpha. Bravo, etc. Any combination of names can be used, depending upon the imagination and audacity of the flight leader.

CALIBRATED AIRSPEED (CAS): Indicated airspeed corrected for instrumentation errors, but not for air density; See Also: airspeed; Symbols: V sub 'CAS'; Typical Units: kt,ft/s; Dimensions: Length / Time.

CANOPY: The clear bubble-like covering which seals the top of the cockpit, protecting the pilot while providing an unobstructed view of the surrounding skies.

CAP: See Combat Air Patrol.

CARQUAL: The qualifications necessary for a pilot to attempt a landing on a aircraft carrier. Short for "carrier qualification."

CARRIER LANDING: Maneuvering an airplane so its arrestor hook engages one of four cables located within a 120 foot section of carrier ’s flight deck.

CARRIER LANDING SYSTEM: The information display system used for carrier landings.

CAS: See Close Air Support.

CAT: See Catapult.

CATAPULT: Device for accelerating an aircraft to take-off speed in 2-seconds and 300 feet.

CATCC: Carrier Air Traffic Control Center.

CCA: Carrier Controlled Approach.

CCIP: Continuously Computed Impact Point.

CENTER OF GRAVITY: Distribution of weight around a balance point

CENTERLINE: Standard aviation term.

CG: Center of Gravity.

CHAFF: Metallic foil packs ejected by an airplane in an effort to confuse an incoming radar guided missile.

CHARLIE: A spoken signal from the Air Boss which means "clear to land."

CLEAR READ: Strong and identifiable signal on radar scope.

CLOSE AIR SUPPORT: Mission order instructing pilot to provide air cover for land units by engaging enemy fighters and ground positions.

CLOSING SPEED: The rate at which the target is approaching or pulling away from your aircraft.

CLS: Carrier Landing System.

CO: Commanding Officer.

COMBAT AIR PATROL: Mission type instructing the pilot to engage any aircraft crossing into his patrol zone. It is generally a constant patrol over a valuable asset such as an airfield.

COMMS: Communications.

CONTRAILS: The thin vapor trails left by an aircraft or missile.

CONTROL INPUTS: The controlling influences a pilot exerts on an aircraft ’s control surfaces.

CONTROL SURFACES: The moving, pilot-controllable parts of the airframe, including flaps, ailerons, rudders and elevators.

CONTROL TOWER: An airport structure housing air traffic controllers.

CRT: Cathode Ray Tube.

CSS: Control Stick Steering.

COURSE: Towards a point at a specified course; Compare: direct

CV: Aircraft carrier.

CVA: Aircraft carrier approach.

CVN: Nuclear powered aircraft carrier.

CVS: Course Vectoring Symbols.

D: Delta

DEAD RECKONING (DR): A method of navigation based on basic information (barometric altitude, magnetic heading, airspeed, wind conditions) from best available source; sometimes short for air data dead reckoning.

DECM: Defensive Electronic Countermeasures.

DELTA: The designation used for a mission wing that will be providing BarCap or TarCap air cover for bombers and other airplanes.

DEST: Destination.

DF: Direction Finder.

DFM: Dog Fight Mode.

DIVISION OR FLIGHT: Four aircraft, consisting of two sections or elements, each with it's own leader, but under the command of the lead element's leader, who is designated ''flight lead." The flight is usually led by the most experienced pilot, with the second element leader as his deputy flight lead.

DIRECT: Towards a point along the shortest distance; Compare: course.

DIRECTION: Bearing.

DIVE BOMBING: Deliver bombs by placing the airplane on a collision course with the target, typically in a dive.

D/L: Data Link.

DMA: The Defense Mapping Agency collects terrain data and information.

DOGFIGHT: The aerial maneuvering by t least two planes in combat.

DRAG: The air's resistance to moving objects.

DROP: Release a bomb or to lose altitude suddenly.

DRONE: Unmanned airplane used as a target, research vehicle, or for reconnaissance.

DTG: Degrees To Go.

DUTY ROSTER: The list of available pilots for missions.

DYNAMIC PRESSURE: Total pressure.

E: Echo.

EARTH COORDINATES: Coordinates referenced to the earth; See Also: east-north-up; Compare: body coordinates, stability coordinates.

ECM: Electronic Countermeasures used to defeat enemy attacks.

ECM JAMMER: A device used to confuse or "jam " an enemy ’s radar and weapons.

ELEVATOR: The horizontal control surface on the tail plane which controls climb or descent.

EID: Electronic Identification.

ENGINE THRUST: The forward propulsion given to an aircraft by its jet exhaust engines.

ENROUTE: A much looser version of the above, applied to any formation during cross-country fight. It allows the leader to control the flight, and reduces fatigue on the wingmen. Wingmen maintain the same relative bearing on the leader but move out to allow nose to tail and wingtip separation.

EQUILIBRIUM: A state in which forces are so arranged that they balance.

ESCORT: Mission order instructing a pilot to fly with and protect another aircraft or unit.

ETA: Estimated Time of Arrival.

EULER ANGLES: Pitch, roll, and yaw.

EVASIVE ACTION: Maneuvers intended to deny an opponent the opportunity to fire weapon, or to avoid an incoming missile or bullet.

EWS: Early Warning System.

EXPANDING SQUARE SEARCH: A pattern of progressively larger squares (a ``square spiral'') followed for searching the ground from an aircraft; Compare: creeping line search, sector search.

EXTRAPOLATE: Function to determine values from two or values in a table, when the given value lies outside of the range of the table; usually linear but can be higher order.

F: Foxtrot.

FCLP: Field Carrier Landing Practice.

FCS: Flight control system.

FIX: A determination of one's position based on external data, such as a known terrain point.

FIGHTER SWEEP: Mission order instructing a pilot to search out and destroy enemy fighters and aircraft.

FLAK: Shrapnel fired into the air by AAA for the purpose of destroying enemy aircraft.

FLAP: A movable part on the wing surface which, when extended on takeoff or landing, increases lift or drag.

FLARE: Incendiary device ejected by an airplane in an effort to confuse an incoming infrared seeking missile.

FLIGHT CONTROLS: Controls in a cockpit for flying an aircraft; primary flight controls are wheel, yoke, cyclic, pedals, throttle, and collective; secondary flight controls are flight controls other than primary, such as flaps, slats, stabilizer, and landing gear.

FLIGHT DECK: The top deck on an aircraft carrier. It is where planes are launched and recovered.

FLIGHT PATH ANGLE (FPA): Angle in vertical plane of earths peed vector and ground speed vector (usual definition), earth-referenced flight path angle; angle in vertical plane of airspeed vector and ground speed vector (occasional definition), air-mass flight path angle; Symbols: gamma; Typical Units: rad, deg.

FLY-BY-WIRE: A modern aircraft design which sends input from the pilot ’s stick into a flight computer which then controls movement.

FLY OVER: A position update by flying directly over a known point.

FM: Frequency Modulation.

FOODFIGHT: Multi-plane aerial combat engagement. See also Furball.

FORCE: The effect of mass times acceleration; a vector whose direction is the same as the direction in which the object accelerates.

FORE: The front of a ship.Also known as Bow.

FORMATION: A disciplined flight of two or more aircraft under the command of a fight leader using a standardized set of signals and commands to direct the wingmen. Not to be confused with a GAGGLE of aircraft.

FOV: Field-Of-View.

FOX ONE: Pilot call on launching a radar guided missile.

FOX TWO: Pilot call on launching a Sidewinder.

FQ: Forward Quarter.

FRAME: The structure which provides the shape of the aircraft.

FURBALL: Multi-plane aerial combat engagement. See also Foodfight.

FUSELAGE: The body of the aircraft.

FWD: Forward.

G: Golf.

G: Acceleration in gravity units. See G-Force.

GAGGLE: An undisciplined group of aircraft, milling about in roughly the same piece of sky, sometimes attempting to impersonate a FORMATION.

GAI: See Ground-Alert Interceptor.

GAMMA: The designation used for a mission wing that will be conducting Fighter Sweeps.

GBL: See Gun Boresight Line.

GBU: Guided Bomb Unit.

GCI: Ground-Controlled Intercept.

G-FORCE: A measure of the force of acceleration, in velocity or direction, induced by an airplane and its pilot.

"GIMME ONE" or "GIMME SOME": What the wingman calls to the lead when he has insufficient power to keep up, asking for lead to reduce power by one inch or more of manifold pressure.

GLIDEPATH: The sloping course along which an aircraft comes in to land.

GLIDESLOPE: Angle approach a runway; Symbols: Gamma; Typical Units: rad, deg.

GRAVITY: Force exerted by gravity; gravity sometimes includes effects of the earth's rotation; gravity is often treated as a constant, but for greater accuracy gravity is a function of latitude, altitude, and the phase of the moon (yes, it's true); Symbols: g; Typical Units: lbf,kip; Dimensions: Mass * Length / Time-squared.

GRAVITATIONAL ACCELERATION: Acceleration caused by the force of gravity; Symbols: g; Typical Units: ft/s-squared, g; Dimensions: Length / Time-squared.

GREYOUT: Greyout occurs when gravitational stresses impair the flow of blood to your brain. Loss of vision and, eventually, unconsciousness can occur when you pull heavy G s.

GROUND ALERT INTERCEPTION: Ground Alert Interception is a mission order which scrambled fighters from the ground to intercept incoming threats.

GROUNDSPEED: The speed over the ground; earthspeed projected to a horizontal plane; Symbols: V sub g; Typical Units: kt, ft/s; Dimensions: Length / Time.

G SUIT: The flight suit worn by pilots to counteract the G forces experienced in flight.

GTA: Ground track angle.

GUIDANCE: System, usually software, that determines state errors of desired state minus current state, typically three states: heading, altitude, and speed.

GUN BORESIGHT LINE: The imaginary line through the center of the gun barrel. Used in calculating lead angle. Also known as GBL.

H: Hotel.

HANGAR: The deck on an aircraft carrier that is located just beneath the Flight Deck.

HARD DECK: Lower altitude limit usually imposed during training.

HARM: A high speed anti-radiation missile, this weapon utilizes a passive seeker to detect and home in on hostile radars.

HCU: Hand Control Unit.

HDG: The direction that the plane is flying. See Heading.

HEADING: Direction on a compass that aircraft is pointed, measured with respect to true north or magnetic north; Symbols: psi; Typical Units: rad, deg.

HEADS-UP DISPLAY: A special cockpit device directly in front of the pilot which projects many kinds of information on a transparent glass screen. The pilot does not have to refocus his eyes to read the information.

HEAT-SEEKING MISSILE: An anti-aircraft missile that detects and attempts to follow a source of Infrared radiation, typically the exhaust.

HEAT SIGNATURE: The Infrared heat given off by an object, usually an aircraft.

HIT: A disabling blow to an aircraft.

HOLD: To maintain some aspect(s) of aircraft state, such as heading, airspeed, altitude, pitch.

HORIZONTAL SITUATION DISPLAY: Two-dimensional representation of relative target and threat positions. Also HSD.

HORIZONTAL SITUATION INDICATOR: An instrument which gives the aircraft's position in relation to various navigational radio beams.

HORIZONTAL STABILIZER: The horizontal section of the tail, which provides downward lift to balance the weight of the nose.

HOT START: A start that exceeds normal starting temperatures.

HSD: See Horizontal Situation Display.

HUD: See Head-Up Display.

HUNG ORDNANCE: Bombs or missiles that failed to separate from the aircraft when released. Makes for a potentially dangerous landing.

HUNG START: A start that results in a stagnated rpm and temperature.

I: India.

IAS: Indicated airspeed.

IADS: Integrated Air-Defense System.

IFF: Identification, Friend or Foe.

ILS: Instrument Landing System.

ILS APPROACH: To approach a runway using ILS.

IMMELMANN: A flight maneuver composed of a vertical quarter-loop followed by a partial roll, and finished with second quarter-loop and half-roll. Named after its inventor German WWI Ace Max Immelmann.

INCOMING: Any threat, typically a missile, approaching an airplane.

INERTIAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM (INS): A system which measures the slightest movement of an aircraft in the air and shows its exact position throughout a flight.

INFRARED: An invisible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum emitted by heated objects. One source of tracking information for anti-aircraft weapons. Also known as IR.

INITIAL: As in initial approach. Refers to the approach on runway heading used when doing a 360 overhead break.

INS: Inertial Navigation System.

INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM (ILS): Equipment determining glide slope, localizer (bearing), and distance (marker beacon) to a runway; ILS provides precision aiding for landing; ILS is usually part of a VOR station. A basic guidance mode, providing lateral guidance, longitudinal guidance, and vertical guidance to approach a runway for landing; in ILS back course, vertical guidance is not provided.

INTERROGATION: A request of data.

INTERVAL: The amount of time elapsed between 2 aircraft passing the same point.

IN THE GROOVE: An aircraft correctly positioned on final approach.

IN THE SADDLE: Astride an opponent ’s "six ",ready for attack.

INSIDE LOOP: A maneuver whereby an airplane continually raises its nose to complete vertical circle while keeping its lateral centerline horizontal. Used to reverse positions with an opponent directly behind.

INVERTED FLIGHT: Flying upside-down.

IR: See Infrared.

IRCM: Infrared Countermeasures used to confuse Heat Seeking Missiles.

J: Juliet.

JAMMING: The act of confusing the an enemy ’s radar tracking system. See ECM.

JINK: Any maneuver used to make the distance or angle between opponents less advantageous to the attacker.

K: Kilo.

KAPPA: The designation used for a mission wing which will be providing CAS.

KCAS: Knots Calibrated Airspeed.

KEEL: The assembly which projects below the bottom of the craft to provide stability.

KFT: Units of measure in thousands of feet.

KIAS: Knots Indicated Airspeed.

KILL: Mortal blow to n opposing aircraft.

KILL BOARD: The board on a carrier where the pilots ’confirmed kills are posted.

KNOT: Nautical mile per hour. Most common measure of aircraft speed. 100 knots equals 115 statute miles per hour. (For mph, multiply knots by 1.15).

KTAS: Knots True Airspeed.

KTS: See Knots.

L: Lima.

LAG PURSUIT: A combat maneuver where the pursuing pilot aims the nose of his aircraft just behind the enemy ’s position and follow it through a turn.

LANDING BOARD: The board on a carrier where the pilots ’landings are posted and rated.

LANDING SIGNAL OFFICER: Standing on the carrier deck, this man is in constant contact with the pilot of an aircraft about to land. He both guides and grades the landing. Also known as LSO.

LANTIRN: Targeting system for Mavericks and laser guided bombs.

LATERAL: Related to latitude; across an aircraft left to right.

LATITUDE: Position on earth, north or south of the equator; See Also: astronomical latitude, geocentric latitude, geodetic latitude; Symbols: Phi; Typical Units: rad, deg.

LCK: See Lock.

LCOS: Lead-Computing Optical Sight.

L/D: Lift-to-Drag ratio.

LDB: See Low Drag Bomb.

LE: Leading Edge.

LEAD PURSUIT: A combat maneuver where the pursuing pilot aims the nose of this aircraft just ahead of the enemy ’s plane.

LEG: A segment of a flight plan; flight path between two waypoints.

LIFT: Force, created primarily by wings (fixed wing) or by rotors (rotary wing), acting in opposite direction of gravity vector; Symbols: Length; Typical Units: lbf, kip; Dimensions: Mass * Length / Time-squared.

LOCK: Usually referring to a missile lock. A lock is required for a high probability of success in a missile attack. Also known as LCK.

LOCK ON: Radar concentrating on target in attack mode. Acquiring a target for the purpose of attacking it.

LOGBOOK: A pilot ’s record of flying achievements including flight hours, takeoffs, landings, and maneuvers mastered.

LONGITUDE: Position on earth, east or west of the prime meridian; Symbols: lambda; Typical Units: rad, deg.

LOOP: Any of a class of maneuvers in which an aircraft describes a closed filigree (usually circle), Its pitch attitude passing evenly through 360 degrees.

LOS: Line Of Sight.

LOW DRAG BOMB: Free-fall ordnance of especially low aerodynamic drag.

LSO: See Landing Signal Officer.

M: Mike.

M: See Mach Number.

MAN: See Manual.

MACH NUMBER: Ratio of airspeed to the local speed of sound (Mach 1 is the speed of sound under current atmospheric conditions); Symbols: M.

MAGNETIC HEADING: Heading of the aircraft relative to magnetic north; A Magnetic Heading Sensor provides this heading data. Symbols: psi sub M; Typical Units: rad, deg.

MANUAL: A system which is operated by manual control. Also refers to a pilot ’s act of switching from automatic to manual controls. Also known as Man.

MAP: Equipment that produces a map image; See Also: Digital Map Generator.

MARSHAL POSITION: An area aft of a carrier where aircraft waiting to land assemble to await their turn.

MASS: Measure of the amount of matter/weight.

MASTER CAUTION: A signal which indicates that one or more caution lights has been activated (from MIL-STD-1472D).

MASTER WARNING: A signal which indicates that one or more warning lights has been activated (from MIL-STD-1472D).

MAV: See Maverick.

MAVERICK: An effective air-to-surface weapon which utilizes a TV seeker or laser guidance to lock and track targets. It can reliably hit moving targets at long range. Also known as MAV.

MEATBALL: Glide slope image of mirror landing system.

MIA: Missing In Action.

MiG: Mikoyan/Gurevich. The Russian manufacturer of many Eastern Bloc fighters.

MILITARY THRUST: The current aircraft ’s full power. Speed settings re given in percentages of full military thrust.

MINIMUM CONTROLLABLE AIRSPEED: The speed below which your control surfaces do not generate significant force to control the plane.

MK84: A two thousand pound bomb.

MK82: A five hundred pound bomb.

MSL: Mean Sea Level.

MRM: Medium Range Missile.

MULTI-FUNCTION DISPLAY: Device used to show selected information. Also known as MFD.

MUNCHING ANGLE: The angle the aircraft assumes on taking flight, also known as the angle of entry.

N: November.

NAP OF THE EARTH FLIGHT: Flight with a goal to remain close to the earth, usually below the height of surrounding trees and less than 100 ft above the terrain; Compare: terrain following.

NEGATIVE Gs: The gravitational force experienced by a pilot in rapid descent.

NFO: Naval Flight Officer.

NM: Nautical Miles.

NO JOY: Used to indicate that you have not visually acquired whatever it is you are looking for.

NOSE TO TAIL OVERLAP: As viewed from above, the nose of the #2 aircraft is farther forward than the tail of the #l. Naturally, as long as there is lateral separation between aircraft, no danger exists.

O: Oscar.

OMEGA: The designation used for a mission wing that will be conducting air defense suppression attacks in preparation for bombing runs. Also known as Wild Weasel.

OBC: On-Board Check.

O’CLOCK: A representation of position relative to an airplane corresponding to a clock face. The nose of the plane is considered to be 12:00 and the rear is 6:00.

ON BEAM: Properly aligned on an ILS approach.

ON YOUR SIX: Pilot jargon referring to the location directly behind an airplane. See Six.

OPERATIONS: How well is equipment operating; Values: Operational (all function and data is available), Degraded (equipment has partially failed with some function or data unavailable and some available), Failed (equipment has failed with no function or data available).

OPS: See Operations.

OPTICALLY GUIDED: A missile or bomb that is directed to its target, via radio control, by a person viewing the target on long-range TV.

ORIENTATION: Direction in reference to a coordinate frame.

OVERRIDE: To alter selection made automatically by software.

OVERSHOOT: The act of flying past an enemy plane. An overshoot can be extremely dangerous since it exposes the plane ’s Six to enemy attack.

OVERTAKE: Closing speed irrespective of relative aspect or heading.

P: Papa.

PAINTED: The act of being illuminated by radar.

PARADE: Formation configuration to be used when under observation by the public, as in an airshow appearance. Parade formation is demanding, since the aircraft are in close physical proximity to each other. It requires absolute concentration on the part of the wingmen and smooth leadership by the flight lead.

PAYLOAD: The weapons carried by an aircraft.

PERIOD: Time of a periodic process; 1/f where f is the sampling frequency; Symbols: T; Typical Units: s; Dimensions: Time.

PERIODIC: A process that executes at a fixed rate; Compare: aperiodic.

PD: See Pulse-Doppler.

PDCP: Pilot ’s Display Control Panel.

PH: See Phoenix missile.

PHOENIX MISSILE: An air-to-air missile which uses active radar to lock onto targets. It is the biggest of the American air-to-air missiles.

PICKLING: The act of selecting a weapon.

PIPPER: Optical representation of aiming point for weapon in the HUD.

PITOT PRESSURE: Total pressure.

PITCH: The angle of a rotor measured in the plane of rotation; Symbols: theta, Theta; Typical Units: rad, deg.

PORT: The left-side of naval vessel.

POSITIVE Gs: The gravitational force experienced by a pilot in rapid ascent.

POW: Prisoner of War.

PRESSURE DRAG: The drag created when the airflow runs into an object and separates to get around the object.

PULLING LEAD: The act of aiming a weapon ahead of an opponent ’s current position to improve the probability of a Hit.

PULSE DOPPLER: A kind of radar which emits a pulsed signal.

PURE PURSUIT: A combat maneuver where the following pilot mimics the enemy ’s tactics.

Q: Quebec.

QUARTERDECK: The stern area of a ship ’s upper deck. It is frequently the part of a ship which is set aside for ceremonial or official use.

QUARTERMASTER: A petty officer who attends to a ship ’s helm, binnacle and signals.

R: Romeo.

RADAR GUIDED MISSILE: A missile that is guided to a target by reflection of radio signals off the target.

RANGE (RNG): Standard aviation term Synonyms: distance; Symbols: r; Typical Units: ft, nmi method of measurement dependent on use; Dimensions: Length.

RAPID DEPLOYMENT FORCE: A branch of the United Nations "military" which was formed to respond quickly to aggressive conduct. Its naval air wing is based on the U.N.S. Peacekeeper, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. Also known as RDF or UNRDF.

RATE OF CLOSURE: Rate of decrease in distance to a target.

RATE OF DESCENT: Rate of loss of altitude, expressed in feet per minute.

RDF: See Rapid Deployment Force.

RDR: Radar.

RED FLAG: Tactical exercises held at Nellis AFB.

REDLINE: For given airplane, the airspeed above which it is unsafe to fly. "Redlining " the plane may overstress or even damage structural elements in the plane.

REDOUT: The loss of vision or consciousness which may occur when a pilot pulls too many negative Gs. It is caused by an overabundant blood supply to the head.

RECON: Reconnaissance.

RELATIVE: Applies to measurements, in a non-standard, moving reference, as opposed to fixed reference; Compare: absolute.

RENDEZVOUS: To meet with another aircraft in the air, for refueling or other mission objectives.

RENDEZVOUS APPROACH: To approach a planned rendezvous point.

RIO: Radar Intercept Officer.

RIX: Recovery duty officer.

ROE: Rules Of Engagement.

ROLL: One of the three axes of motion for an airplane; roll refers to the left and right movement of the fuselage and raises the wings of the airplane up or down. The angle of the plane ’s wings relative to horizontal.

ROLL RATE: Rate of change of roll; time derivative of roll; Symbols: q; Symbols: phi dot; Typical Units: rad/s, deg/s; Dimensions: 1/Time.

ROOKIE: A new or inexperienced pilot.

ROT: Range On Target.

RQ: Rear Quarter.

RUDDER: The parts of the tail surface that control an airplane's yaw; the rudder moves the nose left and right to control the direction in which the airplane turns.

RWR: Radar-Warning Receiver.

S: Sierra.

SAM: Surface-to-Air Missile. An anti-aircraft weapon.

SAR: Search And Rescue. Generally referring to a mission.

SCISSORS: A dangerous series of nose-to-nose turns and overshoots where each aircraft tries to get behind the other one. Also known as Zig-Zag.

SCRAMBLE: Ground and flight crews racing to get airplanes airborne, typically for military emergency.

SECTION OR ELEMENT: A flight of two aircraft. The section is the basic fighting element and is self-supporting covering each other's six o'clock in combat (real or otherwise), and providing back-up on routine flights with radio or equipment malfunctions in addition to moral support and good company.

SECTOR SEARCH: A pattern of concentric arcs followed for searching the ground from an aircraft; Compare: creeping line search, expanding square search.

SERVICE CEILING: The high altitude limit on n aircraft. Exceeding the service ceiling may overstress or damage structural elements in the plane.

SIDEWINDER: An Infrared-homing air-to-air missile. The Sidewinder has scored more ATA kills than any other missile.

SIGMA: The designation used for the AWACS mission wing.

SIGNAL CHARLIE: The signal called by the Air Boss aboard a carrier to inform pilot that the is clear to land.

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS: Situational awareness provides the pilots with information relative to the current surroundings, such as other aircraft or threats in the immediate area.

SIX: Pilot jargon for the location direction behind an airplane. See O ’Clock.

SMART WEAPON: An air-to-ground weapon which can automatically lock onto and guide itself towards a target.

SMASH: Airspeed or Energy. Normally used to denote energy available to accomplish a snappy fighter-type maneuver, such as a pitch up to landing.

SORTIE: A mission.

SPAN: The maximum lateral distance from tip to tip of an aircraft.

SP: See Sparrow.

SPARROW: A radar-guided air-to-air missile. During combat, the missile Paints its target and homes in on the signal.

SPEEDBRAKE: A control surface that is extended into the airstream of an aircraft to increase drag and thereby reduce velocity.

SPIN: Any maneuver in which one wing is stalled and one is not.

SPLIT-S: A maneuver accomplished by rolling inverted and performing one-half of a loop, ending upright-side-up but traveling in the opposite direction at a lower altitude.

SPOOF: Successfully redirecting an incoming anti-aircraft missile.

SPOILER: A control surface on fixed-wing aircraft, usually mounted to the wings, that provides roll control and lift; Symbols: delta sub S; Typical Units: rad, deg.

SRM: Short Range Missile.

STABILITY: That condition of a body which causes it to be restored to its original equilibrium after a disturbance.

STACK: The holding position given to an aircraft by Air Traffic Control while it is waiting to land at an airport.

STALL: Loss of lift due to an acute wing angle, often caused by insufficient speed.

STALL SPEED: The speed at which an aircraft will Stall.

STATUS: An indicator of how well a system or subsystem is working.

STARBOARD: The right-side of a naval vessel.

STBY: Standby.

STEP DOWN: The #2 aircraft is a couple of feet or more lower than the lead. This allows room to maneuver in case of turns into the wingman.

STEP UP: What the thinking wingman does when the leader's making low passes!

STICK: A control in the cockpit which controls the elevators (forward/back axis)and the ailerons (left/right axis).

STEM: The front of a ship. Also known as Bow or Fore.

STERN: The rear of a ship. Also known as Aft.

STORES: Anything that can be loaded on n aircraft, including weapons.

STORES MANAGEMENT DISPLAY: A graphic representation of the status of weapons and supplies.

STT: Single Target Tracking.

SUCKED: To fall behind the lead, or be too far out on the position bearing to be able to join up with available engine power.

SUPERCRUISE: The ability to fly at speeds in excess of Mach One, without using an afterburner.

SUPERSONIC: Faster than the speed of sound in the surrounding air. The speed of sound (called Mach 1.0) varies from about 760 mph (1,225 km/h) in warm air at sea level to about 661 mph (1,060 km/h) in very cold air at great heights.

S/W: See Sidewinder.

T: Tango.

TA: Terrain avoidance.

TAA: Target-Aspect Angle.

TAIL HOOK: See Arrestor Hook.

TALLY HO: Used to indicate that you have visually acquired whatever it is you were looking for.

TARCAP: See Target Combat Air Patrol.

TARGET COMBAT AIR PATROL: Mission type instructing the pilot to engage any aircraft crossing into his patrol zone. This order is used to protect friendly bombers who are engaging a target from counterattacks by enemy fighters.

TARGET: Object or point pointed by FLIR or radar.

TARGET BEARING: The position of the target as compared to the front of your plane. It is expressed in 360 degree increments where the nose of your plane is 0 and your Six is 180.

TARGET DESIGNATOR: An optical "box "surrounding a select ed target as viewed through the HUD.

TARPS: Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System.

TAS: True Airspeed.

TAXIING: The act of steering an aircraft on the ground.

THE BREAK: The breakup of the formation over the runway when a flight does a 360 Overhead. Also called "pitchout." A fighter maneuver indicating an abrupt bank and yank to accomplish a change of direction and/or altitude.

THERMAL: Air rising or falling due to temperature, and thus pressure, differentials; useful in soaring.

THETA: The designation used for a mission wing that will be conducting special operations such as recon, deliveries and such.

THROTTLE: The control in the aircraft ’s cockpit which allows the pilot to adjust thrust.

THRUST: A forward force that pushes an airplane through the air.

TID: Tactical Information Display.

TOF: Time Of Flight.

TONE: An audio cue emitted by a missile tracking system to indicate that the missile has Locked on the target and is ready to be fired.

TOWER: See Control Tower.

TR: Turn Rate.

TRANSPONDER: A device which transmit a coded response (th t may include nationality, altitude, speed, and heading) to friendly units.

TRAP: The act of successfully capturing cable with an arresting hook and landing on n aircraft carrier.

TURBULENCE: The flow of a fluid (such as air) in which the velocity at a given point changes rapidly in magnitude and direction.

U: Uniform.

UN/C: Pilot jargon for joint operations of the United Nations and Chilean government.

UNRDF: The United Nations Rapid Deployment Force. See Rapid Deployment Force.

UNS: United Nations Ship.

USGS: The United States Geological Survey. This government agency collects terrain data and information.

V: Victor.

VEC: Vector.

VELOCITY: An aircraft ’s airspeed, measured in either nautical miles or Mach.

VERT: Vertical.

VERTICAL: Reference to earth radial, for example, vertical velocity is velocity along earth radial; See Also: East-North-Vertical.

VERTICAL ACCELERATION: Aircraft acceleration in earth vertical direction; Symbols: A sub V; Typical Units: ft/s-squared, g; Dimensions: Length / Time-squared.

VERY HIGH FREQUENCY OMNI DIRECTIONAL RANGE (VOR): A system by which radio beams are transmitted from an aircraft to a beacon on the ground in order to calculate the plane's exact position in the air.

VERTICAL HALF-LOOP: The first half of an inside loop, terminated at the top, inverted with a half-roll back to right-side-up and level flight.

VISUAL CONFIRMATION: Sighting of a bogey aircraft to determine nature and threat.

VID: Visual Identification.

VISUAL APPROACH SLOPE INDICATORS (VASI): Signal lights at the sides of the runway which tell an aircraft about to land if it is on the correct approach course.

V/STOL: An aircraft capable of vertical short takeoffs and landings.

VULCAN: A rapid fire rotary cannon used on many fighters. Currently known as M61A1.

W: Whiskey.

WAYPOINT: The different spots or target to which pilots must fly during a mission.

WCS: Weapons Control System.

WEIGHT: A response of mass to the pull of gravity.

WHEEL BRAKE: The locking mechanism on an aircraft ’s wheels to prevent the plane from rolling.

WILD WEASEL: Mission order instructing a pilot to attack enemy ir defense positions, usually in preparation for a bombing attack. Also known as Omega.

WINGMAN: The pilot assigned to fly an aircraft in support of another aircraft.

WIND TUNNEL: A chamber where air or smoke is blown over an object, such as an airfoil, to calculate its aerodynamic forces, such as lift and drag.

WING: A portion of an aircraft's surface which functions as an airfoil.

WINGSPAN: The distance from wingtip to wingtip.

WINGTIP OVERLAP: No lateral separation exists. A time to be smooth and concentrate if you also have nose to tail overlap.

WOD: Wind over the Deck.

WPT: Waypoint.

X: Xray.

X-SECTION: The cross section of an aircraft or other object.

Y: Yankee.

YAW: The swiveling movement of an aircraft to right or left which can be controlled by the rudder on the tail plane fin.

YO-YO: An offensive combat maneuver used to keep inside an enemy ’s turn.

Z: Zulu.

ZONE: The primary mission area.