Definitions by Athene Airheart
Conversation hearts
A type of inexpensive candy found at Valentine's Day. They are in the shape of small pastel-colored hearts with short messages printed on them in red ink.
Some messages might include "love you," "kiss me," "U R fine," "be mine," etc. More modern candies also include "e-mail me," or "text me."
Some messages might include "love you," "kiss me," "U R fine," "be mine," etc. More modern candies also include "e-mail me," or "text me."
Conversation hearts by Athene Airheart May 15, 2004
aileron
The control surfaces found on the outboard sections of an airplane's wing. They move up and down and control the roll of the airplane, turning it.
Aileron is from the French for "Little wing."
Aileron is from the French for "Little wing."
aileron by Athene Airheart May 15, 2004
empennage
The tail section of an airplane, including the elevator and rudder.
From a French word meaning "feathers" or "tail feathers."
From a French word meaning "feathers" or "tail feathers."
empennage by Athene Airheart May 15, 2004
spin
A rather uncomfortable aeronautical maneuver. When in an airplane, if you fly too slow and the wing gets to the wrong angle in relation to the relative wind, you will stall. If the rudder is moved in the wrong way during that stall, the airplane will turn and go into a spin.
Part of a pilot's training is to learn how to get out of stalls and spins, as they can be deadly if not stopped.
Part of a pilot's training is to learn how to get out of stalls and spins, as they can be deadly if not stopped.
Man, I'm gonna hurl. I did eight spins today and I'm really getting dizzy. Can we go do some other maneuver next time?
spin by Athene Airheart May 15, 2004
elevator
Part of the empennage of an airplane.
The horizontal tail surface that controls the pitch of an airplane. The elevator makes the nose go up and down. Negative lift on the elevator surface balences the weight of the engine up front.
The horizontal tail surface that controls the pitch of an airplane. The elevator makes the nose go up and down. Negative lift on the elevator surface balences the weight of the engine up front.
When I pull back on the stick, the elevator at the tail of the plane goes up. The wind flowing over the tail forces the nose up, and I climb into the sky.
elevator by Athene Airheart May 15, 2004
stall
All the above is true. Operationally, a stall happens when you slow the airplane down and increase the angle of attack over the wing so it is no longer producing lift. Student pilots practice doing them so they know how to get out.
It is not particularly dangerous to do stalls if you are careful about it, but I find them to be rather uncomfortable. There is a possibility of going into a spin if the pilot doesn't pay attention. But that, too, can be recovered from.
It is not particularly dangerous to do stalls if you are careful about it, but I find them to be rather uncomfortable. There is a possibility of going into a spin if the pilot doesn't pay attention. But that, too, can be recovered from.
The other day I did a power-off stall. I slowed the airplane down, applied full flaps, then reduced power. I raised the nose untill it buffeted, then the wing lost lift and the nose dipped. I lowered the nose some more and applied full power and flew away.
stall by Athene Airheart May 15, 2004