Parts of the Plane
This movable part on the trailing edge of the wing controls the aircraft's "roll."
What is an Aileron?
In the NATO phonetic alphabet, the letter "A" is represented by this word.
What is Alpha?
There are four main forces acting on an airplane: Thrust, Drag, Weight, and this upward force.
What is Lift?
This paved strip is where planes take off and land.
What is a Runway?
In 1909, this French aviator became the first person to fly across the English Channel, winning a £1,000 prize from the Daily Mail.
Who is Louis Blériot?
These extendable surfaces on the back of the wing increase lift and drag, primarily used during takeoff and landing.
What are Flaps?
This word represents the letter "M," and is also a type of dance.
What is Mike?
This states that as the velocity of a fluid (like air) increases, its pressure decreases—explaining how wings work.
What is Bernoulli’s Principle?
This is the path an aircraft takes to move between the hangar/terminal and the runway.
What is a Taxiway?
On October 14, 1947, this American test pilot flew the Bell X-1 faster than the speed of sound, reaching Mach 1.06.
Who is Chuck Yeager?
Located on the vertical stabilizer (tail), this part controls the "yaw," or left-to-right movement of the nose.
What is the Rudder?
This three-syllable word is used for the letter "Q."
What is Quebec?
This is the term for the angle between the wing's chord line and the oncoming relative wind.
What is the Angle of Attack?
Pilots look for this "sock-shaped" device to determine wind direction and intensity.
What is a Windsock?
Known as the "Spruce Goose," this massive H-4 Hercules flying boat was built primarily of birch and flew only once, piloted by this eccentric billionaire.
Who is Howard Hughes?
This "spinning" component at the front of a piston engine or inside a jet engine provides the forward force known as thrust.
What is a Propeller (or Fan Blade)?
If a pilot says "W" they are referring to this word.
What is "Whiskey"?
When the angle of attack becomes too steep and lift is suddenly lost, the airplane is said to be in this state.
What is a Stall?
Covering approximately 776 square kilometers (300 square miles), this Saudi Arabian airport is the largest in the world by land area—nearly the size of all five boroughs of New York City combined.
What is King Fahd International Airport (DMM)?
Entering service in 1952, this British aircraft was the world's first commercial jetliner, though it was later grounded due to metal fatigue issues.
What is the de Havilland Comet?
This term refers to the main body of the aircraft where passengers and cargo are located.
What is the Fuselage?
These are the specific words for the letters "S" and "T."
What are Sierra and Tango?
This is a byproduct of lift, created by wingtip vortices.
What is Induced Drag?
This building, often called the "Tower," houses the people who manage aircraft separation and safety.
What is Air Traffic Control (ATC)?
On December 17, 1903, this brother stayed aloft for 12 seconds during the first-ever powered, controlled flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft.
Who is Orville Wright?