Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1921-10-08
Three Types Of Aircraft Definitely
Named in New Order to
Army and Navy.
CUTS OUT SLANG PHRASES
National Advisory Committee on Aero.
nautics Complies Standard Terlns-
aircraft" lie Any Form Of Craft
That Navloates the Air.

terms, devised and compiled by the
national advisory committee for aero
nautics, have been officially prescribed
for use In the army and navy. Here
after, the new ORDER states, the Off
GERS Of the two air services will use
the regulation nomenclature,
For some time, aerial experts point
out, laymen have been calling any
thing that traverses the air an "air-
ship" whereas the word aircraft"
should be employed. They say that
all balloons, rigid and nonrigid air
ships, or lighter-than-air craft, are
constantly being termed "blimps,"
slang word, now obsolete, but original
ly used to designate a nonrigid air.
plane fuselage slung beneath the gas
bag.
"Seapiane," Not "HydropIane."
The word "hydroplane" has Offer.
been mlsused in referring to sea
plane; "hydroplane' designates a sen
sled, which planes on the surface of
the water, but does not take the air.
An airplane has been called an 'aero,"
which, 1t is explained, is as wrong us
calling a boat a water The words
'aeroplan&" "hydro-aeroplane" and
"dirigible," have been done away with
and "airplane," "seaplane" and "air-
ship" have taken their places.
According to the recent published
report Of the national advisory COM
mittee aircraft" constitutes any form
of craft designed to navigate the air
and Is divided int "aerostats" and
"airplanes." Aerostats comprise
lighter-than-air craft, embodying a
container filled with a gas lighter than
air, such as hydrogen. and sustained
by its buoyancy. They include "air-
ships" and balloons"
The word "airplane" is now used
to designate craft heavier than air,
obtaining support from the action of
the air on the wings, and driven
through the air by screw propellers.
Airplanes equipped for alighting on
water are termed "seaplanes."
"Airships," as the craft formerly
known as lighter than-air are now
called, are divided into three types
"rigid," whose form Is maintained by
a metallic frame within the gas bag
or envelope; "nonrigid," whose enye-
lope is kept taut by the pressure Of
the contained gas, and "semirigid."
maintained by rigid or jointed keel
and also by gas pressure. These three
types are all propelled by gas engines
located In a hull or car, or In indi-
vidual engine houses suspended below
the supporting envelope, and controlled
by means Of rudders and fins.
Some New Terms.
Among the new and often misun-
derstoOd terms are the following:
Aeronaut-The pilot Of an aerostat
(airship or baloon).
Airdrome-A landing field equipped
with hangers and shops.
Aviator-The operator or pilot Of
heavier-than-air craft, such as air.
planes and Seaplanes.
Fuselage-Body Of an airplane, in
Guiding engine and passenger seats.
Glider-An airplane without q pow
er plant.
Heliocopter-An aircraft deriving
Its support not from wings but the
vertical thrust Of propellers.
Ornithopter-An aircraft deriving
Its support and power from Tapping
wings.
Pancake-To land by an airplane
by leveling off higher from the ground
than normal, causing 1t to stall and
descend nearly vertically.
Soar-To fly on a level without
power.
Spin-An aerial maneuver IN which
the airplane descends nearly vertical
ly while turning rapidly in the form
Of helix or "corkscrew."
Taxi-To run an airplane over the
ground or seaplane over the water
under itG own power, without taking
the air.
Zoom-To climb rapidly at very
steep angle.