Nov 102013
Here’s an interesting look at the different terminology used by American and British airmen. This table was adapted from an appendix to the Pilot’s Manual for Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. I can imagine the use of the wrong word to the wrong person might result in injuries.
American Term | British Term |
---|---|
Accumulator (hydraulic) | (not a battery) |
Airfield | Aerodrome |
Battery (electrical) | Electrical accumulator |
Bombardier | Bomb aimer |
Ceiling | Cloud height |
Check valve (hydraulic) | Non-return valve |
Copilot | Second pilot |
Cylinder (hydraulic) | Jack |
Dump valve | Jettison valve |
Empennage | Tail Unit |
Flight indicator | Artificial horizon |
Gasoline | Petrol |
Glass, bulletproof | Armour glass |
Gross weight | Earth |
Gyro horizon | Artificial horizon |
Gyro pilot | Automatic pilot |
to Land | to Alight |
Lean | Weak |
Left | Port |
to Level off | to Flatten out |
Line, mooring | Mooring guy |
Manifold pressure | Boost |
Mast, radio | Rod serial |
Overload | Non-standard load |
Panel, outboard | Outer plane |
Reticle (gun sight) | Graticle |
Screen | Filter |
Set, command | Pilot controller set |
Set, liaison | General purpose set |
Airplane | Aircraft |
Speed, indicated air | Air-speed-indicator reading |
Stabilizer, horizontal | Tail plane |
Stabilizer, vertical | Fin |
Stack | Manifold (inlet or exhaust) |
Tachometer | Engine speed indicator |
Tube (radio) | Valve |
Turn indicator | Direction indicator |
Valve (fuel or oil) | Cock |
Weight empty | Tare |
Windshield | Windscreen |
Wing | Main plane |