Rowland White: Vulcan 607

Carouselan inertial navigation system

DaggerIsraeli version of the Mirage jet

Dash 10A wing-mounted podded radar jammer used by the Vulcan during the BLACK BUCK raids

DFCDistinguished Flying Cross

dihedralangled upwards from horizontal

drogueAlso known as the basket, this is at the end of the hose trailed from the Victor’s HDU. Shaped like a shuttlecock, it couples with the receiver’s probe to allow fuel to flow between the two aircraft

DVDirect Vision

ECMElectronic Counter-Measures

EPIRBEmergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon

ExocetFrench air-, surface- or submarine-launched anti-ship missile

F4 PhantomAmerican-built two-seat fighter-bomber

F95aerial camera used by the RAF

FAAFuerza Aérea Argentina: the Argentine Air Force

FansongSoviet fire-control radar used with the SA-2 surface-to-air missile

FIBSFalkland Islands Broadcasting Service

FIDFFalkland Islands Defence Force

FIGASFalkland Islands Government Air Service

fire-control radarRadar that directs the fire of anti-aircaft guns or surface-to-air missiles

flameoutextinction of the flame in a jet engine’s combustion chamber

GADA 601Grupo de Artillería de Defensa Aérea: an Argentine Army anti-aircraft unit

gashRAF slang for rubbish

GnatBritish advanced jet-training aircraft

GPI6Ground Position Indicator Mk 6

GPMGGeneral Purpose Machine-Gun

green porridgeRAF slang for the H2S radar display used by Vulcan and Victor Navigator Radars

Gun DishSoviet fire-control radar used with the ZSU-23-4

H2Sradar carried by Vulcans, Victors and Valiants

HDUHose Drum Unit: the mechanism that winds and unwinds the Victor’s refuelling hose

HFhigh-frequency

HP cockhigh-pressure cock

Humphreynickname for HMS Antrim’s Wessex helicopter

IFFIdentification Friend or Foe: a radio transponder broadcasting on prearranged frequencies to confirm identity

INSInertial Navigation System

JARICJoint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre at RAF Brampton in Cambridgeshire

Jet ProvostBritish basic jet-training aircraft

JPTjet pipe temperature

KC-135US-made aerial tanker

KH11American spy satellite

Kill ZoneThe zone in which a weapon is accurate and lethal

LADELíneas Aéreas de Estado: airline operated by the Argentine Air Force

Lightningsingle-seat British jet fighter

LP cocklow-pressure cock

Mae WestRAF nickname for aircrew’s life jackets

MEZMaritime Exclusion Zone

MirageFrench-made single-engine, single-seat fighter-bomber

MRRMaritime Radar Reconnaissance

NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization

NBSNavigation and Bombing System

NVGsnight-vision goggles

OCUOperational Conversion Unit

ODMOperating Data Manual

OerlikonSwiss-made radar-guided 35mm anti-aircraft cannon

Omegavery-low-frequency radio navigation system

Operation ALPHAArgentine plan to establish sovereignty on South Georgia

Operation BLACK BUCKThe codename given to RAF Vulcan raids during the Falklands War

Operation BLUEArgentine plan to seize the Falkland Islands

Operation CORPORATEThe codename given to the British operation to retake the Falkland Islands

Operation PARAQUATThe codename for the British operation to retake South Georgia

PECPersonal Equipment Connector

pop upTo ascend briefly from low level in order to deliver weapons

PRFPulse Recurrence Frequency: picked up by an RWR and used by the AEO to distinguish one radar from another

probeThe device through which a receiver takes on fuel during air-to-air refuelling

QFIQualified Flying Instructor

QRAQuick Reaction Alert

Radar AltimeterMeasures altitude by transmitting radar pulses directly downwards which reflect back to the radar aerial. In contrast to a barometric altimeter, it measures actual distance from the ground rather than indicating height above sea level

RATRam Air Turbine: source of emergency electrical power used in the event of engine failure

RED FLAGThe realistic air warfare exercises held in Nevada, USA

Red RagThe codename for the BLACK BUCK Operations team on Ascension

Red Shrimpradar jammer fitted to the Vulcan

retarded bombA bomb fitted with a drag parachute in order to prevent an aircraft flying at low level being damaged by the blast from its own weapons

RheinmetallGerman-made 20mm anti-aircraft cannon

RolandFranco-German radar-guided surface-to-air missile

rotateThe point at which an aircraft takes off

RTradio telephony

RVrendezvous

RWRRadar Warning Receiver

SA-2Soviet surface-to-air missile: NATO reporting name Guideline

Saintsnickname for St Helenians

SAMsurface-to-air missile

SCSYSSatellite Communication System; pronounced ‘Sixsis’

Sea HarrierBritish V/STOL single-seat naval fighter-bomber

Sea KingBritish naval helicopter

SHARRoyal Navy nickname for the Sea Harrier FRS1

SkyboltAn air-launched ballistic missile, cancelled in the 1960s

SkyguardSwiss-made fire-control radar

SLRSelf-Loading Rifle

Spadeadamelectronic-warfare range in Cumbria

stick spacingdistance between each bomb in a stick of bombs

Super ÉtendardFrench-made single-engine, single-seat naval attack aircraft

SuperfledermausSwiss-made fire-control radar

TACANTactical Air Navigation: a UHF transponder that provides information on range and bearing

TEZTotal Exclusion Zone

TFRTerrain-Following Radar

Tiger CatBritish-made optically guided surface-to-air missile

Tornado GR1British/German/Italian-built two-seat, swing-wing strike aircraft

TPS-43American-made long-distance search radar

TPS-44American-made search radar

TRUTransformer Rectifier Unit

U-2American high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft

UHFultra-high frequency

VC10A four-jet British airliner used by the RAF as a transport aircraft

Verey flarecoloured flare fired from a pistol

VHFvery-high frequency

V/STOLVertical/Short Take-Off and Landing