Aero-Terms!

Designed to be a daily reminder of the terms, names, acronyms and explanations of the unique language that populates the aviation world, ANN Contributor Aleta "I'm Not Making An Asterisk Of Myself" Vinas will be selecting... and defining unique aeronautical terms each day from all tiers of the aviation world...

Aerospace, sport aviation, fixed wing, helo, you name it... it's all fair game and with a full year's selection already coming together, we can assure you that Aero-Terms should serve as a quick but intriguing reminder of the terms you may use every day or an introduction to an aspects of the Aero-World you may not yet be familiar with.

Cool, no?

Suggestions for future Aero-Terms are ALWAYS welcome, as are additions or discussion of the explanations given for each Aero-Term.

Billow Shift

The distortion of a weight-shift control wing (Trikes and Hang Gliders) where the “Billow” (sail slackness) changes as a result of moving the center of gravity side to side. Moving the CG to the right, for example, makes the wing (sail) shift toward the right wing thereby tightening the left and causing a rolling motion.  Don’t try this in a Cessna, folks. 

FMI: www.wind-drifter.com/FLPHGHandling.pdf