Aviation Vocabulary

Lift

• The upward force that counteracts weight, created by air moving over and under the wings.

• A downward force that increases the speed of an aircraft.

• The force that pulls an aircraft towards the ground.

• The resistance force that opposes the motion of an aircraft.

Airfoil

• The shape of a wing or blade designed to produce lift as air moves over it.

• A type of engine used in aircraft.

• A measurement of the speed of an aircraft.

• A device used to control the direction of an aircraft.

Spoilers

• Panels on the top of the wings that disrupt airflow to reduce lift and slow the aircraft during descent or landing.

• Devices used to increase lift during takeoff.

• Flaps that extend downward to increase drag during landing.

• Control surfaces that help in maintaining the aircraft's altitude.

Roll

• The rotation of an aircraft around its longitudinal axis (nose to tail), controlled by ailerons.

• The vertical movement of an aircraft during ascent and descent.

• The lateral movement of an aircraft during turns.

• The forward motion of an aircraft during flight.

Stabilizer

• A device that increases the speed of the aircraft.

• A fixed surface on the tail (horizontal or vertical) that keeps the aircraft steady and balanced during flight.

• A mechanism that controls the altitude of the aircraft.

• A part of the engine that reduces noise during flight.

Momentum

• The force that causes an object to stop moving.

• The tendency of a moving object to keep moving unless acted upon by another force.

• The speed of an object in a specific direction.

• The mass of an object multiplied by its velocity.

Fuselage

• The main body of the aircraft, where the cockpit, passengers, and cargo are located.

• The part of the aircraft that provides lift during flight.

• The section of the aircraft that houses the engines.

• The area where the landing gear is stored.

Longitudinal

• Refers to the direction from the nose to the tail of the aircraft; it is the axis around which roll occurs.

• Refers to the vertical axis of the aircraft; it is the axis around which pitch occurs.

• Refers to the direction from wingtip to wingtip of the aircraft; it is the axis around which yaw occurs.

• Refers to the overall length of the aircraft; it is the measurement from the nose to the tail.

Pitch

• The upward or downward movement of an aircraft’s nose around its lateral axis, controlled by the elevator on the tail.

• The side-to-side movement of an aircraft’s nose around its vertical axis, controlled by the ailerons.

• The forward or backward movement of an aircraft’s nose around its longitudinal axis, controlled by the rudder.

• The rotation of an aircraft around its center of gravity, controlled by the flaps.

Flaps

• Hinged parts on the back edge of wings that increase lift or drag, helping planes take off and land more safely.

• Fixed structures on the wings that provide stability during flight.

• Movable surfaces on the tail that control the pitch of the aircraft.

• Components that reduce drag by streamlining the aircraft's shape.