Aviation Glossary
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LAMINAR-FLOW AIFOIL
Definition of: LAMINAR-FLOW AIFOIL
A low-drag airfoil designed to maintain laminar flow over a high percentage of the chord about itself. Often relatively thin, especially along the leading edge, with most of its bulk near the center of the chord.
LANDING WIRES
Definition of: LANDING WIRES
Interplane bracing wires that help support wingloads when the plane is on the ground. Direction of travel is downward and outward from the fuselage. Opposite of FLYING WIRES.
LIFT
Definition of: LIFT
The force exerted on the top of a moving airfoil as a low-pressure area that causes a wingform to rise.
LIFT WIRES
Definition of: LIFT WIRES
Interplane bracing wires that help support wingloads when the plane is in flight. Direction of travel is upward from the bottom of the fuselage to the top of the interplane struts. Also known as LIFT WIRES, the opposite of LANDING WIRES.
LIFT-DRAG RATIO
Definition of: LIFT-DRAG RATIO
The lift of a wing divided by the drag, or the lift coefficient divided by the drag coefficient, as the primary measure of the efficiency of an aircraft; aka L/D Ratio.
LIQUID COMPASS
Definition of: LIQUID COMPASS
A non-electronic, calibratable compass floating in a liquid as a panel instrument; aka Wet Compass.
LOAD FACTOR (g)
Definition of: LOAD FACTOR (g)
The proportion between lift and weight commonly seen as g (sometimes capitalized) — a unit of force equal to the force of gravity times one.
LOFTING
Definition of: LOFTING
Design or fabrication of a complex aircraft component, as with sheet metal, using actual-size patterns or plans, generally laid out on a floor. The term is borrowed from boat builders.
LONGERON
Definition of: LONGERON
A principal longitudinal member of a fuselage's framing, usually continuous across a number of supporting points.
LOOP ANTENNA
Definition of: LOOP ANTENNA
A circular radio antenna, either in the open or in a streamlined, teardrop housing, remotely turned 360° to fine-tune a station in league with other radio-directive devices. See also RADIO COMPASS, RADIO DIRECTION FINDER
LORAN
Definition of: LORAN
Long Range Navigation system, which utilizes timing differences between multiple low-frequency transmissions to provide accurate latitude/longitude position information to within 50'.
LTA
Definition of: LTA
Lighter-than-air craft, generally referring to powered blimps and dirigibles, but often also includes free balloons.
LUNKENHEIMER VALVE
Definition of: LUNKENHEIMER VALVE
A manual fuel drain placed handily along a fuel line for checking avgas, such as for water or sediment.
