Aviation Language
Look up a term, discover its meaning and follow it into an explanation you can build on.
Heading
The direction in which the aircraft’s nose points, expressed relative to a reference north.
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Definitions & aircraft profilesLift
The aerodynamic force component perpendicular to the relative airflow.
Drag
The aerodynamic force component parallel to and opposing relative motion through the air.
Thrust
The propulsive force produced by an engine and propeller or jet.
Weight
The gravitational force acting on an aircraft.
Pitch
Rotation about an aircraft’s lateral axis: the nose moves up or down.
Roll
Rotation about the longitudinal axis: one wing rises as the other falls.
Yaw
Rotation about the vertical axis: the nose moves left or right.
Altitude
Vertical distance above a specified reference level. The reference matters.
Heading
The direction in which the aircraft’s nose points, expressed relative to a reference north.
Airfoil
A shaped surface designed to produce useful aerodynamic forces as air flows around it.
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Speak the language of flight
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