Джон Болл - Phase Three Alert

Trackmaster : A special rescue vehicle designed and equipped to operate over unprepared terrain, ice, and snow under the most severe weather conditions; riding in one is somewhat similar to being inside a concrete mixer.

Transceiver : A piece of radio gear that will both transmit and receive.

Transponder : A piece of airborne radar equipment by means of which an aircraft can identify itself or alert ground controllers to any unusual situation. The transponder produces a bright visual display on the controllers’ radarscopes. Transponder use is known as squawking ; thus, an aircraft may be asked “to squawk” a certain code number so that it can be positively identified. An aircraft in distress will squawk 7700 , a signal that gets immediate attention. The code 7600 indicates radio failure. There is also a code to be used if hijacked.

Tricycle gear : The now very popular arrangement of a main landing gear, usually somewhere under the wing area, and a nosewheel. It is used on aircraft of all sizes.

Trim tab : A relatively small movable surface that is part of a larger aircraft control surface. It is used to make minor, semi-permanent adjustments.

Truculent Turtle : The name of a famous U.S. Navy aircraft that set an impressive long-range record. The Turtle is a Lockheed P2V Neptune; Commander Thomas D. Davies and crew flew her nonstop 11,236 miles.

Turboprop : An aircraft powered by turbine engine(s) that turn propeller(s). Turboprops are roughly halfway between piston-engined aircraft (all of which are propeller driven) and pure jets.

Twin Otter : A DeHavilland (of Canada) aircraft particularly suitable for operation in undeveloped areas. It is a twin turboprop STOL (Short Take Off and Landing) transport able to carry up to twenty passengers and suitable for ski operations.

Urp bucket : A wax-lined bag, or other container, provided to receive vomit in case of airsickness. (The next time you fly, you will find one in the seat pocket in front of you.)

Very piston : A flare signaling device carried on most aircraft likely to be operated over desolate regions.

VFR : Visual Flight Rules, i.e., flying in clear, unobstructed weather.

VHF : Very High Frequency.

VIP : Very Important Person, now more commonly DV (Distinguished Visitor).

VORTAC : A radio aid to air navigation which combines VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range) and TACAN transmissions — two entirely different systems — at one location.

Walter Reed : A large military hospital in Washington, D.C.

Weather radar : An airborne radar system that will show a pilot weather conditions ahead of him, particularly such things as thunderstorms. It is especially useful at night.

Weight and balance : A computation made before flight to establish that an aircraft’s load is within established limits, both as to gross weight and placement within the cargo hold.

Whipstall : A violent aircraft maneuver in which a stall is induced at an extreme attitude, such as with the nose almost straight up. Under such circumstances, the aircraft will literally whip around as it recovers. Unless stressed for such maneuvers, it could experience structural failure.

Whiteout : A condition in heavy fog or snow when the pilot of an aircraft cannot see anything but white out of his windshield, and cannot distinguish snow-covered ground from the equally white atmosphere.

Wilco : Will comply. Used in radio communications, it also implies that the preceding transmission has been fully understood.

Wing-root section : That section of an aircraft wing closest to the side of the fuselage.

Yoke : The aircraft control column, usually in duplicate in aircraft that have provisions for a copilot. The yoke moves backward and forward to control the elevators; the control wheel is mounted on top.Normally, yoke implies the entire control assembly.

Zero time : By law, or military regulation, a very careful record is kept of the amount of time that each aircraft is in actual use. This time accumulates until the aircraft (and/or its power plants) undergoes complete overhaul. When all worn parts have been replaced, and the aircraft has been restored to new condition, it is then considered to have zero time, since it is the equivalent of a brand-new plane. Zero time , therefore, does not imply total newness, but rather implies no time since exhaustive overhaul and restoration to new condition. The total time on each aircraft and engine is also progressively accounted for. An aircraft may therefore be described as having “total time 2, 345 hours, zero time since overhaul.” (Such periodic overhauls are mandatory.)