Descriptionary

coaxial rotor system a dual-rotor system mounted one atop the other and rotating in opposing directions.

collective pitch lever the pilot's left-hand control, used to change the pitch of the main rotor blades.

compound helicopter a cross between an air­plane and a helicopter, having rotary and fixed-wing components.

cyclic pitch stick the pilot control that changes the pitch of the blades individually, affecting the speed and direction of flight.

flight deck the cockpit.

heliport a helicopter landing pad or landing facility.

lateral rotors dual rotors aligned to the left and right of the body.

rotor brake the control that engages and disengages the main rotor system.

skid the landing feet or rails, as distinguished from wheels.

stall loss of lift.

tail rotor a rotor mounted on the tail to counteract the torque produced by the main rotor.

tandem rotor system a dual-rotor system aligned fore and aft.

Airports

approach lights the platformed lights—some raised as high as 200 feet—leading to a runway. See sequence flashers.

apron the main loading area.

barrette closely spaced approach lights that from the sky appear as a solid bar of light.

blast fences fixed barriers or walls protecting pas­sengers and equipment from jet-engine wake.

cab the glassed-in enclosure atop the control tower.

centerline approach system the runway approach system used as the national standard, characterized by flashing blue lights paired with white centerline bars leading to white crossbars at 1,000 feet, red crossbars at 200 feet, and a green bar at the threshold of the runway.

centerline lights 200-watt, white lights embedded into the runway.

clearway the clear area past the end of the airport, over which aircraft make their ascent.

control tower the airport nerve center manned by controllers who oversee taxiing, takeoffs, and land­ings, recognized by its tower and glass-enclosed cab.

flight service center the facility that provides pilots with information on weather, local conditions, winds, routes, and other conditions.

hangar an aircraft storage and maintenance building.

holding bay a large waiting area just off the run­way where, in peak hours, pilots must wait in line for takeoff.

holding point a marked threshold along the side of a runway where the second aircraft in line stops and waits for the aircraft in front of it to take off.

marshallers airport personnel who direct taxiing aircraft into or out of parking positions by signals made with batons or paddles.

microwave landing system a system that guides aircraft to the runway by a microwave beam that scans a large area of sky.

rollout lanes high-speed turn-off lanes serving the runway.

safeway pneutronic parking system a system of pressure pads embedded in the aircraft parking and docking area that sense the position of aircraft and direct the pilot left or right.

sequence flashers white strobe lights that blink in sequence to help guide pilots toward the centerline of the runway. One component of the approach lights.

snow lights raised lights marking the edges of the runway when others are buried beneath snow.

taxiway the strip an aircraft drives on leading on or off the runway.

touchdown zone lights the white lights marking the touchdown zone of the runway.

visual approach slope indicators adjacent either side of the touchdown zone, a system of lamps pro­jecting aligned, red and white beams indicating a pilot's angle of approach.

wind sock a bright, conical sock indicating wind speed and direction.

carriages and coaches of the 19TH century

barouche a four-wheeled vehicle having facing seats to accommodate six people, popular with families. The barouche's collapsible top quickly converted it into an open vehicle, which made it the popular choice as a parade carriage for presidents and other dignitaries.

brougham an English-designed, boxlike carriage enclosing two to four passengers, pulled by one horse.

buggy see top buggy.

cabriolet a one-horse, two-wheeled carriage having two seats and a collapsible top.

chaise a one-horse, two-wheeled open carriage with folding hood. Also called a shay.

coachman the driver of a coach or carriage.

Concord the most popular stagecoach of the period, built in Concord, New Hampshire. It could carry up to nine people inside and as many as a dozen outside, hanging off and around the roof.

conestoga a dory-shaped wagon having a hooped canvas roof, used for long-distance traveling and pulled by a team of six horses.