Stranger to the Ground

Drop tanks—Fuel tanks fastened beneath the wing to extend the range of an aircraft. They can be jettisoned in flight to lighten the airplane for combat.

Echelon—A formation of aircraft arranged in a line at an angle to their line of flight.

Engine screens—Retractable steel screens inside the engine air intake at the nose of the airplane to prevent foreign objects from entering the engine and damaging it.

External stores—Any load mounted on the under-wing attachment fittings; bombs, rockets, drop tanks or nuclear weapons.

Flak—Originally, bursts of antiaircraft fire from special-design ground weapons. More loosely used by fighter-bomber pilots, flak includes pistol and rifle fire, sticks, stones, rocks and whatever else the enemy throws in front of an airplane in the hope of bringing it down.

Flaps—Aerodynamic panels mounted in the wing that can be extended for low-speed flight.

Flight level—A form of altitude designation in which, for instance, 33,000 feet becomes “flight level 330.”

Fuselage—The “body” of an airplane, to which are attached the wings and tail.

Go-No-Go Speed—A computed speed that is used to determine that an aircraft is accelerating properly during its takeoff roll. If the go-no-go speed is not reached by a selected distance along the runway, takeoff is discontinued.

G-suit—Properly, “anti-G suit.” A set of tightly laced inflatable nylon/rubber “chaps” that fill with air during high-G turns and pullouts to keep the pilot’s blood from pooling in his legs and consequent blackout or momentary loss of vision.

Gun heater—A unit that keeps the machine guns warm and in firing condition when flying through the cold of high altitudes.

Holding pattern—In instrument flying, a racetrack-shaped pattern around which an airplane flies while waiting for clearance to descend.

IFF—Identification Friend or Foe. An electronic beacon installed in the aircraft that presents a distinctive pattern on a ground radar screen. IFF gives air traffic controllers positive identification of friendly aircraft.

Inverter—An electrical device that converts DC power into AC power for instrument operation. The F-84F has a main and an alternate inverter.

LABS—Low Altitude Bombing System. One method of delivering nuclear weapons.

Loadmeter—An instrument that measures the percentage of electrical generator output being used by all aircraft systems combined.

Machmeter—An indicator that compares the speed of the airplane to the speed of sound. Mach 1 is the speed of sound; maximum speed of the F-84F is about Mach 1.18.

Ordnance—Any form of firepower that can be delivered from an aircraft to a target.

Penetration—A pattern of instrument descent which brings an aircraft from high altitude to a position over the runway ready for landing.

Pipper—The center dot of light in an optical gunsight that shows the converging point of bullets, and the impact points of bombs and rockets.

Pitot system—The aircraft sensing system that measures static and dynamic air pressures for use in the altimeter, airspeed, and vertical speed indicators.

Pneumatic compressor—A compressor installed in the fuselage that recharges the cylinder of high-pressure air used for engine starting.

Radiocompass—A radio connected to an indicator which very often points to selected low-frequency broadcast and navigation stations on the ground.

Radome—The fiberglass housing that covers radar antennas on the nose of multiengine and all-weather air defense airplanes.

Ramp—An area on which airplanes are parked.

Rpm—Revolutions per minute, measured from zero to 100 percent of possible engine speed on a tachometer installed in the cockpit.

Scissors—In air combat, a series of hard turn reversals.

Servomotor—An electric motor, controlled from the cockpit, assisting in the job of aircraft control.

Shoulderboards—Insignia distinguishing cadets from officers and enlisted men in the Air Force.

Sight caging lever—A handle beneath the gunsight that locks the delicate working parts of the sight against the shocks of taxiing, takeoff and landing.