Aircraft Upgrades

Essential for threat assessment and recognition

Content Structure
Jane’s Aircraft Upgrades contains full Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft-type descriptions of commercial and military aircraft, both fixed- and rotary-wing, that are no longer in production or are coming to the end of their production cycles, but are still in operational service worldwide. This contrasts with Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft which covers all aircraft either in full production or in their design or development stages.

Structure
At the front of the book there is a fleet list of over 500 commercial airlines taken from Jane’s World Airlines. All the world’s major flag carriers are included as well as regional, scheduled or charter operators with 30-seater plus aircraft. The list is in alphabetical order and includes aircraft type, engines used, number of aircraft in fleet, number of aircraft leased and number of aircraft on order.

The title has two sections, Aircraft and Contractors.

• Aircraft - This section is organised alphabetically by company, containing information on aircraft and their associated upgrades, conversions and modifications. Each airframe entry gives full details of the development history, listing the various versions still in service. Any associated upgrade entries follow the main airframe entry. This ensures that all entries relating to a particular aircraft type are grouped together in the book for ease of reference.
• Contractors - This section is organised alphabetically by country, then alphabetically by company name within each country. It contains details of airframe manufacturers as well as companies that offer retrofit packages to upgrade, convert, modify and refurbish aircraft. There are two indexes. The Alphabetical Index lists all entries and includes variants on aircraft names where appropriate. There is also a Contractors’ Index, organised alphabetically by contractor name, detailing all entries with which each contractor is associated.

Record Structure

Aircraft records
The following main headings are used in the aircraft section.

• Type - showing the type and role of the aircraft
• Programme - this gives a brief history of the programme
• Current versions/Versions - this includes details of the versions of the aircraft.
• Upgrades - containing a description of the upgrade programmes.
• Operators - Military aircraft have this heading, which lists each air arm still operating the aircraft along with the number in service.
• Customers - overview of the aircraft’s customers.
• Costs - this shows the cost of the aircraft where known.

Specification information such as:

• Dimensions - both external and internal
• Weights and loadings
• Performance
• Design Features - description of different features of the design.
• Flying controls - describes the types of controls used for flying.
• Structure - this covers the different structural components of the aircraft.
• Landing gear - description of the landing gear.
• Power plant - details of the engines of the aircraft.
• Accommodation - includes the numbers of crew members the aircraft can hold.
• Systems - information on the systems on the aircraft.
• Avionics and equipment - description of the avionics and equipment.
• Aircraft manufacturer - this shows the name and location of the original aircraft manufacturer. Where the original manufacturer has been acquired by another company, or if the manufacturer’s name has changed, this is indicated with the original name in brackets; for example, BAE Systems (British Aerospace), UK.
• Upgrade contractor - this shows the name and location of the upgrade contractor where applicable.
• Contractor records

These records begin with the address, contact details and key personnel of the company. These main headings then follow:

• Background - A brief description of the company’s history and operations.
• Aircraft - listings of the company’s aircraft.
• Programmes - listings of the company’s upgrade programmes.

Images
Photographs are provided for each aircraft wherever possible. Line drawings and graphics are also provided in some cases. Images are annotated with a seven digit number which uniquely identifies them in Jane’s image database.

Sections

• Aircraft - fixed-wing - civil
• Aircraft - fixed-wing - civil/military
• Aircraft - fixed-wing - military
• Aircraft - fixed-wing/rotary-wing - military
• Aircraft - rotary-wing - civil
• Aircraft - rotary-wing - civil/military
• Aircraft - rotary-wing - military
• Airline fleet list
• Analysis
• Contractors
• Glossary

Commonly Used Terms
(1) A precisely delineated boundary on the surface, inside which the perceived noise of an aircraft exceeds a specified level during take-off and/or landing;, (1) Air recreational vehicle; (2) air reconnaissance vehicle., (1) Air-to-surface vessel; (2) Anti-surface vessel., (1) Automatic carrier landing system; (2) Air cushion landing system., (1) Automatic stabilisation equipment; (2) Aircraft survivability equipment., (1) Boeing Vertol: Integral spar inspection system;, (1) Calibrated airspeed, ASI calibrated to allow for air compressibility according to ISA S/L; (2) Close air support; (3) Chief of the Air Staff (also several other aerospace meanings)., (1) Electronic surveillance (or support) measures; (2) Electronic signal monitoring., (1) Fixed portion of wing inboard of variable sweep wing; (2) additional aerofoil profile added around normal wing for test purposes., (1) for freight, rigid platform for handling by forklift or conveyor; (2) for missile, mounting and electronics box outside aircraft., (1) Foreign military sales (US DoD); (2) Flight management system., (1) In flight configuration with landing gear, flaps, slats and so on retracted; (2) Without any optional external stores., (1) Intermediate pressure; (2) initial point in attack manoeuvre., (1) percentage of maximum payload; (2) design factor for airframe., (1) Search and rescue; (2) Synthetic aperture radar., (1) Small airfield for tactical support; (2) Small Arms Target System., (1) US Air Force Aerospace Defense Command (no longer active); (2) air data computer., (1) US Air Force Military Airlift Command; (2) mean aerodynamic chord., (2) Dispersion of weapon or submunition impact points., (2) Ferranti: Integrated strike and interception sight., (French saumon) Streamlined fairings, usually at wingtip of sailplane, serving same function as end plate and acting also as tip-skid., (frequency hopping) Making a transmission harder to detect by switching automatically to a succession of frequencies., (N America, airplane) Heavier-than-air aircraft with propulsion and a wing that does not rotate in order to generate lift., (see bearingless rotor)., 0.83267 Imperial gallon; 3.785 litres., 1.20095 US gallons; 4.546 litres., A chordwise projection on the surface of a wing, used to modify the distribution of pressure., A device which acts as a relay, usually augmenting the pilot's efforts to move a control surface or the like., A family of new technology propellers characterised by multiple scimitar-shaped blades with thin sharp-edged profile. Single and contrarotating examples promise to extend propeller efficiency up to about M0.8. See also UDF., A lifting surface (for example wing, tailplane)., A step in the leading-edge of a plane resulting from an increase in chord (see also saw-tooth)., A term denoting that a component has proved by testing that it can be expected to continue to function safely for a precisely defined period before replacement., Acceleration due to mean Earth gravity, for instance, of a body in free-fall; or acceleration due to rapid change of direction of flight path., Accessory-drive generator., According to condition rather than at fixed intervals., Actuator control electronics., Advanced instrumentation subsystem., Advanced self-protection jammer., Adverse combination of airfield height and high ambient temperature, which lengthens required TOD (which see)., Advisory Group on Reliability in Electronic Equipment., Aeronautical Radio Inc, US company whose electronic box sizes (racking sizes) are the international standard., Air combat manoeuvring instrumentation., Air Force Base (USA)., Air Staff Target (UK)., Air traffic control., Air Transport Association of America., Airborne early warning., Airborne integrated data system., Airborne tactical data system., Airborne target handover (US, handoff) system., Airborne very low frequency., Airborne warning and control system (aircraft)., Aircraft classification number (ICAO system for aircraft pavements)., Aircraft flyable but unpainted, unfurnished and basically equipped., Aircraft prepared for service; a fully equipped and crewed aircraft without usable fuel and payload., Aircraft weight (usually MTOGW) divided by total propulsive power or thrust at T-O., Aircraft weight (usually MTOGW) divided by wing area., Aircraft with fixed wing and rotors that tilt up for hovering and forward for fast flight., Airflow through fan duct (not passing through core) divided by air flow through core., Airframe-mounted accessory drive., Air-launched cruise missile., Airline Transport Radio ARINC 404 black box racking standards., Airspeed at which aircraft stalls at 1g, that is wing lift suddenly collapses., Airspeed indicator reading., Airspeed indicator., Air-to-air interception of low-flying aircraft by AAM fired from fighter at a higher altitude., Air-to-air missile., Air-to-ground missile., Air-to-surface missile., All cargo not packed in containers or on pallets., All manmade vehicles for off-surface navigation within the atmosphere, including helicopters and balloons., All-up weight (term meaning total weight of aircraft under defined conditions, or at a specific time during flight). Not to be confused with MTOGW (which see)., Alternating current., Ammonium perchlorate., Ampère-hours., Amplitude modulation., Angle at which airstream meets aerofoil (angle between mean chord and free-stream direction). Not to be confused with angle of incidence (which see)., Angle of attack (see 'attack' below)., Anti-submarine warfare., Aramid fibre used as basis of high-strength composite material., Aramid fibre-reinforced plastics., ASW sensor operators., Attitude/director indicator., Attitude/heading reference system., Automatic approach to hover., Automatic communications and recording system., Automatic configuration control processor., Automatic flight control system., Autopilot flight director., Auxiliary power unit (part of aircraft)., Aviation electronics, such as communications radio, radars, navigation systems and computers., Aviator's night vision system., Avion de décollage et atterrissage court (STOL)., Avion de décollage et atterrissage vertical (VTOL)., Backwards inclination of wing or other aerofoil, seen from above, measured relative to fuselage or other reference axis, usually measured at quarter-chord (25 per cent) or at leading-edge., Basic operating weight (which see)., Beyond visual range., Blade plus disc (of turbine engine) fabricated in one piece., Boosted by afterburning., Boundary-layer control., Brake release weight, maximum permitted weight at start of T-O run., British Civil Airworthiness Requirements (see JAR)., Built-in test equipment., Busbar, main terminal in electrical system to which battery or generator power is supplied., Bypass ratio., Calculates position, distance and time from groups of airways beacons., California bearing ratio, measure of ability of airfield surface (paved or not) to support aircraft., Capable of grossly changing shape in flight, especially by varying sweep of wings., Carbon fibre-reinforced plastics., Cathode ray tube., Ceiling of helicopter (corresponding to air density at which maximum rate of climb is zero), either IGE or OGE., Central processing unit., Centre d'Essais Aéronautiques de Toulouse., Centre d'Essais en Vol., Centre d'Expériences Aériennes Militaires., Centre of gravity., Characteristic 'fingerprint' of all electromagnetic radiation (radar, IR and so on)., Circular error probability (50/50 chance of hit being inside or outside) in bombing, missile attack or gunnery., Civil aircraft carrying both freight and passengers on main deck., Civil Airworthiness Regulations., Civil Aviation Authority (UK)., Cluster bomb unit., Cockpit-angle measure (crew field of view)., Colour tactical display., Combination of optics and electronics in viewing and sighting systems., Command and stability augmentation system (part of AFCS)., Command, control and communications., Command, control, communications and countermeasures., Committee on Aircraft Noise (ICAO) rules for new designs of aircraft., Common strategic rotary launcher (for air-launched missiles of various types)., Communications intelligence., Component knocked down, for assembly elsewhere., Computer-assisted design/computer-assisted manufacture., Computer-operated instrument system., Connection between gas-turbine and compressor or other driven unit. Two-shaft engine has second shaft, rotating at different speed, surrounding the first (thus, HP surrounds inner LP or fanshaft)., Constant-speed drive (output shaft speed held steady, no matter how the input may vary)., Construction (or constructor's) number., Continental USA (excluding Hawaii, and so on)., Control column in the form of a short handgrip beside the pilot., Control configured vehicle., Counter-rotating (propellers)., Covered with flexible surfaces alternately pumped up and deflated to throw off ice., DecaNewtons (Newtons force × 10); thus, torque measured in daN-metres., Decibel., Defence Research Agency, Farnborough and Bedford, UK., Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency., Defines the airworthiness of private and air taxi aeroplanes of 5,670 kg (12,500 lb) MTOGW and below., Defines the airworthiness of public transport aeroplanes exceeding 5,670 kg (12,500 lb) MTOGW., Depth of wing or other aerofoil; maximum perpendicular distance between upper and lower surfaces., Designed to cause maximum damage to concrete runways., Different authorities have different definitions; weight chosen as typical of mission but usually much less than MTOGW (which see)., Differential Global Positioning System; satellite-based precision navaid., Digital air data computer., Digital air data system., Digital engine control unit., Digital inertial navigation system., Direct current., Direct lift control., Direction Générale à l'Aviation Civile., Directionally solidified., Direction-finder, or direction-finding., Disposable load generating revenue (passengers, cargo, mail and other paid items), in military aircraft loosely used to mean total load carried of weapons, cargo or other mission equipment., Distance between centres of contact areas of main landing wheels measured left/right across aircraft (with bogies, distance between centres of contact areas of each bogie)., Distance from leading-edge to trailing-edge measured parallel to longitudinal axis., Door larger than its frame in pressurised fuselage, either opening inwards or arranged to retract parts before opening outwards., Downward slope of wing seen from front, in direction from root to tip., Early warning support measures., Effective perceived noise decibel, SI unit of EPNL., Effective perceived noise level, measure of noise effect on humans which takes account of sound intensity, frequency, character and duration, and response of human ear., Ejection seat designed for use even at zero speed on ground., Electric or electronic device for inverting (reversing polarity of) alternate waves in AC power to produce DC., Electrical power distribution system., Electromagnetic pulse of nuclear or electronic origin., Electron beam welding., Electronic counter-countermeasures., Electronic countermeasures., Electronic flight instrument(ation) system, in which large multifunction CRT displays replace traditional instruments., Electronic highway for passing digital data between aircraft sensors and system processors, usually MIL-STD-1553B or ARINC 419 (one-way) and 619 (two-way) systems., Electronic warfare., Electronics intelligence., Electro-optical., Element giving descent path guidance in ILS (which see)., Element giving steering guidance in ILS (which see)., Emergency locator transmitter, to help rescuers home on to a disabled or crashed aircraft., Emergency power unit (part of aircraft, not used for propulsion)., Engine having four horizontally opposed cylinders; thus, flat-twin, flat-six and so on., Engine indication (and) crew alerting system., Engine restricted to power less than potential maximum (usually such engine is flat rated, which see)., Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System., Entry into service., Environmental Protection Agency., EPNdB measure of aircraft landing and taking off, at point 0.25 n miles (two- or three-engined) or 0.35 n miles (four-engined) from runway centreline., EPNdB measure of aircraft taking off, at point directly under flight path 3.5 n miles from brakes-release (regardless of elevation)., Equivalent airspeed, RAS (which see) minus correction for compressibility., Equivalent horsepower, measure of propulsive power of turboprop made up of shp plus addition due to residual thrust from jet., Equivalent kilowatts, SI measure of propulsive power of turboprop (see ehp)., European Space Agency., Exhaust gas temperature., Experimental Aircraft Association (divided into local branches called Chapters)., Extended-range twin (engine) operations, routeing not more than a given flight time (120 or 180 minutes) from a usable alternative airfield., External Stores Support System., Extra-vehicular activity, that is outside spacecraft., Extreme low frequency., Extreme safe range with zero payload., Federal Aviation Administration., Federal Aviation Regulations., Fédération Aéronautique Internationale., Fédération Française de Vol à Voile (French gliding authority)., Fibre elastomeric rotor head., Fin (thus, horizontal stabiliser = tailplane)., Fine filament of carbon/graphite used as strength element in composites., Fiscal year; 1 October to 30 September in US government affairs (FY99 begins 1 October 1998)., Fitted with narrow-chord tab along entire trailing-edge which deflects to greater angle than main surface., Flap across which bleed air is discharged at high (often supersonic) speed to prevent flow breakaway., Flap and slat control processor., Flexible air data system., Flight control system in which signals pass between computers and actuators along fibre optic leads., Flight control system with electrical signalling (that is, without mechanical interconnection between cockpit flying controls and control surfaces)., Flight director system., Flight for maximum endurance, such as supersonic fighter on patrol., Flight management computer system., Fly-by-light (which see)., Fly-by-wire (which see)., Flying control surfaces, usually a V tail, that control both yaw and pitch attitude., Folding-fin (or free-flight) aircraft rocket., Foreplanes, fixed or controllable aerodynamic surfaces ahead of CG., Forward line of own troops., Forward operating location., Forward-looking infra-red., Forward-swept wing., Frequency modulation., Fuel (or other fluid) tank of flexible material., Fuel (or other liquid) tank formed by sealing part of structure., Fuel quantity indicating system., Fuelling via a leakproof connection through which fuel passes at high rate under pressure., Full authority digital engine (or electronic) control., Full-scale development., Future Air Navigation System., Gas generator portion of turbofan comprising compressor(s), combustion chamber and turbine(s)., Gas turbine in which all compressors and turbines are on common shaft rotating together., Gas turbine in which as much energy as possible is taken from gas jet and used to drive high-speed shaft (which in turn drives external load such as helicopter transmission)., Gas turbine in which as much energy as possible is taken from gas jet and used to drive reduction gearbox and propeller., Gas-turbine engine fitted with new fan of higher BPR., Gas-turbine jet engine generating most thrust by a large-diameter cowled fan, with small part added by jet from core., Gas-turbine starter (starter is miniature gas turbine)., Generalised term for oxides of nitrogen., Generalised word meaning equal in all directions (as in omni-range, omni-flash beacon)., Generation of large-area display, for example TV screen, by close-spaced horizontal lines scanned either alternately or in sequence., Geostationary., Glass fibre cloth or rovings pre-impregnated with resin to simplify layup., Glass fibre-reinforced plastics (German)., Glass fibre-reinforced plastics., Glide slope, of ILS., Global Air Traffic Management., Global Positioning System, US military/civil satellite-based precision navaid., Ground beacon giving position guidance in ILS., Ground power unit (not part of aircraft)., Ground support equipment (such as special test gear, steps and servicing platforms)., Ground-controlled interception., Ground-proximity warning system., Hands on cyclic and collective., Hands on throttle and stick., Having two components rotating in opposite directions., Head-down display., Head-up display (bright numbers and symbols projected on pilot's aiming sight glass and focused on infinity so that pilot can simultaneously read display and look ahead)., Head-up display and weapon aiming computer., Head-up navigation and targeting equipment for retrofit., Height above S/L at which ambient pressure is same as inside cabin., Helicopter designed for battlefield attack, normally with slim body carrying pilot and weapon operator only., Helicopter tail rotor with many slender blades rotating in short duct., Helmet-mounted display; hence HMS = sight., Hertz, cycles per second., High frequency., High pressure (HPC, compressor; HPT, turbine)., High-bypass ratio (engine)., High-intensity flashing beacon., High-speed databus., High-velocity aircraft rocket., Hinges down and then forward from below the leading-edge., Homing on to radiation reflected from target illuminated by radar or laser energy beamed from elsewhere., Horizontal situation indicator., Horsepower., Hot high-pressure air extracted from gas-turbine engine compressor or combustor and taken through valves and pipes to perform useful work such as pressurisation, driving machinery or anti-icing by heating surfaces., Hour(s)., Identification friend or foe., Imperial (long) ton = 1.016 t (Mg) or 2,240 lb, US (short) ton = 0.9072 t or 2,000 lb., In gas-turbine engine, compressor delivery pressure divided by ambient pressure (in supersonic aircraft, divided by ram pressure downstream of inlet)., In ground effect: helicopter performance with theoretical flat horizontal surface just below it (for example, mountain)., In simplest form, first figure is rim diameter (in or mm) and second is rim width (in or mm). In more correct three-unit form, first figure is outside diameter, second is maximum width and third is wheel diameter., In terms of performance, the distance an aircraft can fly from base and return without intermediate landing., Inbuilt twist of wing or rotor blade reducing angle of incidence towards the tip., Increased manoeuvrability kit., Increased pressure in forward-facing aircraft inlet, generated by converting (relative) kinetic energy to pressure., Indicated airspeed, ASIR corrected for instrument error., Inertial navigation system., Inertial reference system., Infra-red linescan (builds TV-type picture showing cool regions as dark and hot regions as light)., Infra-red search and track., Infra-red., Initial operational capability., Inspect and repair as necessary., Instantaneous VSI., Instrument flight rules (not VFR, (which see))., Instrument landing system., Instrument meteorological conditions. Meteorological conditions too poor for pilot to fly without reference to blind-flying instruments., Integrated armament management system., Integrated communications, navigation and identification avionics., Integrated electronic warfare system., Integrated multiplex system., Integrated nav/attack system., Integrated navigation and tactical plotting system., Integrated-drive generator., Intelligent control and display unit., Intermediate-pressure compressor, turbine., International Air Transport Association., International Civil Aviation Organisation., International Standard Atmosphere., Involute throat and exit (rocket nozzle)., ISA temperature and pressure., Japan Civil Airworthiness Board., Japan Defence Agency., Japanese Air Self-Defence Force., Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force., Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force., Jet-assisted take-off (actually means rocket-assisted)., Joint Airworthiness Requirements, agreed by all major EC countries (JAR.25 equivalent to FAR.25)., Joint Primary Aircraft Training System., Joint Tactical Information Distribution System., Joules, SI unit of energy., Kilometres per hour., KiloNewtons (the Newton is the SI unit of force; 1 lbf = 4.448 N)., Kilovolt-ampères., Kilowatt, SI measure of all forms of power (not just electrical)., Knot,1 n mile per hour., Knots calibrated air speed., Knots true air speed., Laser ranger and marked-target seeker., Left and right tailplanes used as primary control surfaces in both pitch and roll., Left side, looking forward., Light detection and ranging (laser counterpart of radar)., Light-emitting diode., Line-replaceable unit., Liquid crystal display, used for showing instrument information., Liquid oxygen., Liquid-injection thrust vector control., Load classification number, measure of 'flotation' of aircraft landing gear linking aircraft weight, weight distribution, tyre numbers, pressures and disposition., Localiser (which see)., Long-range hyperbolic radio navaid., Long-range navigation; family of hyperbolic navaids based on ground radio emissions, now mainly Loran C., Long-range oblique photography., Low pressure (LPC, compressor; LPT, turbine)., Low-altitude bombing system designed to throw the bomb up and forward (toss bombing)., Low-altitude navigation and targeting infra-red, night., Low-altitude ride control., Low-light TV (thus, LLLTV, low-light level)., Luftfahrtbundesamt (German civil aviation authority)., Machined from solid matter instead of assembled from separate parts., Made of two constituents, such as filaments or short whiskers plus adhesive forming binding matrix., Magnetic anomaly detector., Main horizontal tail surface, originally fixed and carrying hinged elevator(s) but today often a single 'slab' serving as control surface., Maintenance analysis, detection and recording., Man-powered aircraft., Marker beacon receiver., Mast-mounted sight., Materials and structures designed to reduce aircraft signatures of all kinds., Maximum design differential pressure between pressurised cabin and ambient (outside) atmosphere., Maximum except take-off., Maximum landing weight., Maximum operating Mach number., Maximum permitted diving speed., Maximum permitted operating flight speed (IAS, EAS or CAS must be specified)., Maximum permitted operating Mach number., Maximum ramp weight., Maximum take-off gross weight (MRW minus taxi/run-up fuel)., Maximum weight at start of flight (MTOGW plus taxi/run-up fuel)., Maximum zero-fuel weight., Mean time between failures., Mean time between removals., Mean time to repair., Measure of distance needed to land and/or take-off; many different measures for particular purposes, each precisely defined., Measure of rocket engine efficiency; thrust divided by rate of fuel/oxidant consumption per second, the units for mass and force being the same so that the answer is expressed in seconds., Measure of wing (or other aerofoil) slenderness seen in plan view, usually defined as the square of the span divided by gross area., Measured 1 n mile from downwind end of runway with aircraft passing overhead at 113 m (370 ft)., Measuring all accelerations imparted to a vehicle and, by integrating these with respect to time, calculating speed at every instant (in all three planes) and, by integrating a second time, calculating total change of position in relation to starting point., Medium frequency., Medium-frequency automatic direction-finding (equipment)., Memorandum of understanding., Metre(s), SI unit of length., Microgrammes, grammes × 10-6., Microwave aircraft digital guidance equipment., Microwave landing system., Miles per hour., Millibars, bar × 10-3., Milligrammes, grammes × 10-3., Millimetres, metres × 10-3., Minimum control speed., Minimum distance from nosewheel or tailwheel (centre of contact area) to line joining mainwheels (centres of contact areas)., Minimum navigation performance specification., Missile approach warning., Monofuel emergency power unit., Monomethyl hydrazine., Moves initially aft to increase wing area and then also deflects down to increase drag., Moving-target indication (radar)., MTOGW minus payload (thus, including crew, fuel and oil, bar stocks, cutlery and so on)., MTOGW minus usable fuel and other consumables, in most aircraft imposing severest stress on wing and defining limit on payload., Multifunction (electronic) display., Multifunction colour display., Multiple strands of fibre, as in a rope (but usually not twisted)., Multiplied by an agreed number to take account of extreme adverse conditions, errors, design deficiencies or other inaccuracies., Multipurpose colour display., Multipurpose display., Nap of the Earth (low-flying in military aircraft, using natural cover of hills, trees and so on)., National Aeronautics and Space Administration., NATO air defence ground environment., nautical mile (1.8532 km; 1.15152 miles)., Never-exceed speed (aerodynamic or structural limit)., Newton, SI unit of force (=4.448 lb f)., Newton-second (1 N thrust applied for 1 second)., Night observation surveillance., Night vision goggles., Non-destructive testing., Non-directional beacon., Non-SI measure; 1 Imp gallon (UK) = 4.546 litres, 1 US gallon = 3.785 litres., Non-SI unit of energy (British Thermal Unit) = 0.9478 J., Non-SI unit of pressure adopted by this yearbook pending wider acceptance of Pa. 1 bar = 105 Pa. ISA pressure at S/L is 1,013.2 mb or just over 1 bar. ICAO has standardised hectopascal for atmospheric pressure, in which ISA S/L pressure is 101.32 hPa., Not armoured or hardened., Nozzle guide vane., Object carried as part of payload on external attachment (for example bomb, drop tank)., Of a sailplane, distance travelled along track divided by height lost in still air., Omni-bearing magnetic indicator., Onboard oxygen generating system., One complete axial compressor rotor; thus a two-shaft engine may have a fan plus an LP spool., One engine inoperative., One having an auxiliary aerofoil ahead of main surface to increase maximum lift., One item or consignment delivered (by any means of transport) to customer., One thousand bits of memory., On-top position indicator (indicates overhead of submarine in ASW)., Operating weight empty. MTOGW minus payload, usable fuel and oil and other consumables., Operational Conversion Unit., Operational evaluation., Organisation Scientifique et Technique Internationale du Vol à voile (international gliding authority)., Out of ground effect: helicopter hovering, far above nearest surface., Outside air temperature., Over-the-horizon., Penetration aids, such as jammers, chaff or decoys to help aircraft fly safely through hostile airspace., Performance data computer system., Performance level expected of average pilot, in average aircraft, without additional safety factors., Pilotless aircraft, usually winged, following preset programme of manoeuvres., Pilot's control unit., Popular Flying Association (UK)., Position and heading (or homing) indicator., Pounds of thrust., Primary flight computer system., Principal fore-and-aft structural members (for example in fuselage)., Production of identical item by second factory or company., Propeller or rotor operating regime in which pilot has direct control of pitch., Propulsion engine capable of giving full thrustor power for take-off to high airfield height and/or high ambient temperature (thus, probably derated at S/L)., Protected as far as possible against nuclear explosion., Provided with spare capacity or data channels and thus made to survive failures., Public or passenger address., Pulse Doppler., Radar absorbent material., Radar in which the beam is scanned electronically in one or both axes without moving the antenna., Radar sending out pulses and measuring frequency-shift to detect returns only from moving target(s) in background clutter., Radar Warning Receiver., Radio magnetic indicator; combines compass and navaid bearings., Radio transmitter triggered automatically by a particular received signal as in civil secondary surveillance radar (SSR)., Radio transmitter/receiver., Ram air turbine., Range surveillance aircraft., Rate at which fuel is consumed divided by power or thrust developed and thus a measure of engine efficiency. For jet engines (airbreathing, that is, not rockets) unit is mg/Ns, milligrams per Newton-second; for shaft engines unit is µg/J, micrograms (millionths of a gram) per Joule (SI unit of work or energy)., Ratio of the thickness (aerodynamic depth) of a wing or other surface to its chord, both measured at the same place parallel to the fore-and-aft axis., Rectified airspeed, IAS corrected for position error., Registro Aeronautico Italiano., Reinforced part of aircraft to which external load can be attached, for example weapon or tank pylon., Remotely piloted vehicle (pilot in other aircraft or on ground)., Request(s) for proposals., Research octane number., Réseau du Sport de l'Air., Retractable stairway built into aircraft., Right side, looking forward., Rijksluchtvaartdienst. Netherlands civil aviation department., Rotary-wing aircraft both lifted and propelled by one or more power-driven rotors turning about substantially vertical axes., Rotary-wing aircraft propelled by a propeller (or other thrusting device) and lifted by a freely running autorotating rotor., Rotary-wing aircraft with no internal power, lifted by a freely running autorotating rotor and towed by an external vehicle., Rotor in which flapping, lead/lag and pitch change movements are provided by the flexibility of the structural material and not by bearings. No rotor is rigid., Runway visual range., Same as dog-tooth., Sea level., Second(s)., Secondary surveillance radar., Secrétariat Général a l'Aviation Civile (now DGAC)., See DRA., See wing area., Selective identification facility., Self-contained navigation system., Setting propeller or similar blades at pitch aligned with slipstream to give resultant torque (not tending to turn shaft) and thus minimum drag., Shaft horsepower, measure of power transmitted via rotating shaft., Sharp-edged strips on wing leading-edge to induce stall at that point., Short for Doppler radar - radar using fact that received frequency is a function of relative velocity between transmitter or reflecting surface and receiver; used for measuring speed over ground or for detecting aircraft or moving vehicles against static ground or sea. Short take-off and landing. (Several definitions, stipulating allowable horizontal distance to clear screen height of 35 or 50 ft or various SI measures.), Short-chord fence ahead of and below leading-edge., Short-range navigation (radio)., Side cargo door., Side-looking airborne radar., Signals intelligence., Simplest form of gas turbine comprising compressor, combustion chamber, turbine and propulsive nozzle., Single screen bearing all data for aircraft flight path control., Single-sideband (radio)., Small auxiliary aerofoil, usually sharply upturned and often sweptback, at tip of wing., Small auxiliary surfaces hinged to trailing-edge of control surfaces for purposes of trimming, reducing hinge moment (force needed to operate main surface) or in other way assisting pilot., Small blades attached to wing and tail surfaces to energise local airflow and improve control., Small thruster, usually a rocket, for final precise adjustment of a vehicle's trajectory and velocity., Solid-state inverter of alternating wave-form (that is, not rotary machine) to produce DC from AC., Special Federal Aviation Regulation(s)., Specific fuel consumption., Speed for best range., Stability and control augmentation system., Stability augmentation system., Stall protection and incidence-limiting system., Stall-protection device that forces pilot's control column forward as stalling angle of attack is neared., Stall-warning device that noisily shakes pilot's control column as stalling angle of attack is neared., Static thrust., Strictly, the angle at which the wing is set in relation to the fore/aft axis. Wrongly used to mean angle of attack (which see)., Structure linking aircraft to external load (engine nacelle, drop tank, bomb and so on). Also used in conventional sense in pylon racing., Structure or system which survives failure (in case of system, may no longer function normally)., Structure with strength in outer shell, devoid of internal bracing (semi-monocoque, with some internal supporting structure)., Sum of masses that can be loaded or unloaded, including payload, crew, usable fuel and so on; MTOGW minus OWE (which see)., Supersonic transport., System which continues to function after any single fault has occurred., Tactical air navigation system; Decca Navigator or Doppler-based computer, control and display unit., Tactical air navigation UHF military navaid giving bearing and distance to ground beacons; distance element (see DME) can be paired with civil VOR., Tactical commander, ASW aircraft., Take-off distance., Take-off gross weight (not necessarily MTOGW)., Take-off., Tandem wing layout in which forward and aft wings are swept so that the outer sections meet., Technical Standard Order (FAA)., Temporarily augmenting the thrust of a turbofan or turbojet by burning additional fuel in the jetpipe., Terrain Awareness and Warning System., Terrain-following radar (for low-level attack)., The ratio of the speed of a body to the speed of sound (1,116 ft; 340 m/s in air at 15ºC) under the same ambient conditions., The region of hot air and gas emitted by a helicopter jetpipe., The underlying layer on which something (such as a solar cell or integrated circuit) is built up., Thin slivers of radar-reflective material cut to length appropriate to wavelengths of hostile radars and scattered in clouds to protect friendly aircraft., Those used to control trajectory of aircraft (thus, not trimmers, tabs, flaps, slats, airbrakes or lift dumpers and so on)., Thrust specific fuel consumption of jet engine (turbojet, turbofan, ducted propfan or ramjet)., Thrust vector control (rocket)., Time between overhauls., Tonne, 1 Megagram, 1,000 kg., Too many definitions to list, but essentially the distance an aircraft can fly (or is permitted to fly) with specified load and usually whilst making allowance for specified additional manoeuvres (diversions, standoff, go-around and so on)., Total mass of fuel consumable in flight, usually 95 to 98 per cent of system capacity., Total projected area of clean wing (no flaps, slats and so on) including all control surfaces and area of fuselage bounded by leading- and trailing-edges projected to centreline (inapplicable to slender-delta aircraft with extremely large leading-edge sweep angle). Described as gross wing area; net area excludes projected areas of fuselage, nacelles, and so on., Traffic Collision Avoidance System., Transformer rectifier unit., Transport aircraft able to be equipped to carry passengers or cargo., Travelling-wave tube., True airspeed, EAS corrected for density (often very large factor) appropriate to aircraft height., Turbine entry temperature (of the gas); also turbine inlet temperature (TIT), inter-turbine temperature (ITT) and turbine gas temperature (TGT)., Turbine mechanically independent of engine upstream, other than being connected by rotating bearings and the gas stream, and thus able to run at its own speed., Turbofan exhaust vented over upper surface of wing to increase lift., UHF distance-measuring equipment; gives slant distance to a beacon; DME element of Tacan., Ultra bypass engine, alternative terminology (Boeing) for UDF., Ultra-high frequency., Undefined term meaning unequipped empty weight., Unducted fan, one form of advanced propulsion system in which gas-turbine blading directly drives large fan (propfan) blades mounted around the outside of the engine pod. (GE registered abbreviation.), Unit of pressure, Pa × 100., Unmanned air vehicle., Upward slope of wing seen from front, in direction from root to tip., US Air Force Strategic Air Command., US Air Force Tactical Air Command., US Air Force/Navy Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System in Boeing E-8A., US armed forces multistaged improvement programme., US House Armed Services Committee., US National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (now NASA)., US National Business Aircraft Association., US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration., US Naval Air Station., US Naval Air Systems Command (also several other aerospace meanings)., US Naval Air Training Command or Test Center (also several other aerospace meanings)., Usable fuel plus payload., Using electric power alone (not electrohydraulic) to drive control surfaces and perform other mechanical tasks., Usually height equivalent to air density at which maximum attainable rate of climb is 100 ft/min., Vehicle management system., Vertical speed (climb/descent) indicator., Vertical take-off and landing., Very high frequency., Very low frequency (area-coverage navaid)., VHF omnidirectional range (VHF radio beacons providing bearing to or from beacon)., video (or visual) display unit., Visual flight rules., Voice command interactive device., Weapon delivery and navigation system., Weapons interface unit., Wing of relatively deep, flat-topped profile generating lift right across upper surface instead of concentrated close behind leading-edge., Wing trailing-edge control surface combining functions of aileron and elevator., Wing trailing-edge surface combining functions of flap and aileron., Wired telephone system for communication within aircraft., Workshare granted to a customer nation to offset the cost of an imported system., Zero-fuel weight.

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