SP-367 Introduction to the Aerodynamics of Flight

- Appendix A -

AERONAUTICAL NOMENCLATURE

General Definitions

aircraft any machine or weight-carrying device (whether

lighter or heavier than air) designed to be supported
by the air, either by bouyancy or by dynamic action
aerodyne that class of aircraft being heavier than air and
deriving it lift in flight chiefly from aerodynamic
forces
airplane a subset of aerodynes, specifically, a mechanically
(aeroplane) driven fixed-wing aircraft, heavier than air, which is
supported by the dynamic reaction of the air against
its wings
aerodynamics the science that deals with the motion of air and
other gaseous fluids, and of the forces acting on
bodies when the bodies are in relative motion with
respect to such fluids
aerostat that class of aircraft being lighter than air and
deriving its support chiefly from buoyancy derived
from aerostatic forces
airship a subset of aerostats, specifically, an aerostat
provided with a propelling system and with a means
of controlling the direction of motion
aerostatics the science that deals with the equilibrium of
gaseous fluid and of bodies immersed in them
aeronautics the science and art of designing, constructing, and
operating aircraft
Aircraft Types
Figure 160 presents sketches of the aircraft types defined
herein.

airships nonrigid (blimp): a lighter-than-air craft having a gas

(dirigibles) bag, envelope, or skin that is not supported by any
framework or reinforced by stiffening. Its shape is
maintained by the internal pressure of the gas with
which it is filled. semirigid (sometimes blimp): a
dirigible having its main envelope reinforced by a
 keel but not having a completely rigid framework.
rigid: a dirigible having several gas bags or cells
enclosed in an envelope supported by an interior
rigid framework structure.
amphibian an airplane designed to rise from and alight on either
water or land
autogyro a rotary-wing aerodyne whose rotor is turned
throughout its flight by air forces resulting from the
motion of the craft through the air
balloon a bag, usually spherical, made of silk or other light,
tough, nonporous material filled with some gas which
is lighter-than-air. It is an aerostat without a
propelling system.
biplane an airplane having two wings or supporting surfaces,
one located above the other
boat, flying type of airplane in which the fuselage (hull) is
especially designed to provide flotation on water
glider an engineless airplane flown by being manipulated
into air currents that keep it aloft
helicopter a type of rotary-wing aerodyne whose lift and
forward thrust are derived from airfoils mechanically
rotated about an approximately vertical axis
kite a light frame, usually of wood, covered with paper or
cloth and designed to be flown in the wind at the end
of a string
lifting body an aerodyne which derives most or all of its lift in
flight from the shape of its fuselage, the wings being
essentially nonexistent
monoplane an airplane having but one wing or supporting
surface
ornithopter a type of aircraft achieving its chief support and
propulsion from the bird-like flapping of its wings
parachute cloth device, consisting of a canopy and suspension
lines, which basically produces a drag force to retard
the descent of a falling body
[183] paraglider a flexible-winged, kite-like vehicle designed for use in
a recovery system for launch vehicles
pusher airplane an airplane with the propeller or propellers aft of the
main supporting surfaces
rotary-wing a type of aerodyne which is supported in the air
aircraft wholly or in part by wings or blades rotating about a
 substantially vertical axis
tailless airplane an airplane in which the devices used to obtain
stability and control are incorporated in the wing
tractor airplane an airplane with the propeller or propellers forward of
the main supporting surfaces
STOL short take-off and landing airplane
VTOL vertical take-off and landing airplane
V/STOL an airplane which has both STOL and VTOL
capabilities
[183-186] Figure 160.- Examples of aircraft types.

Nonrigid airship

Rigid airship

Balloon

Amphibian (Grumman SA-16A

Albatross)

Autogyro

Biplane (Bristol F2B)

Flying boat (Shin Meiwa PX-S)

Glider (Schweizer 1-23)

Helicopter (Sikorsky CH-3C)

Kite

Lifting body (HL-10)

Monoplane (Piper Arrow)

Flapping wing ornithopter

Parachutes

Paraglider

Pusher airplane (XB-42)

Rotary-wing aircraft (Bell Jet

Ranger)

Tailless airplane (Avro 707B)

Tailless aiplane (YB-49)

Tractor airplane (Boeing 377

Stratocruiser)

STOL- Short Take-off and landing

airplane (DHC-6 Twin Otter)
VTOL - Vertical take-off and
landing airplane (P1227 Harrier)

V/STOL airplane (X-22A)