| Tailplane: |
Another word for a horizontal stabilizer. |
| Takeoff: |
The process of using the thrust of the engines to accelerate an airplane down a runway until enough lift is generated so that the aircraft breaks contact with the ground. In a helicopter the proccess of increasing engine and rotor RPM whilst increasing th |
| Tango: |
Stands for the letter T in the phonetic alphabet. |
| Taxi: |
When an aircraft moves under its own power on the ground. |
| Taxiway: |
The paved airport surfaces which allow aircraft to travel between runways and other airport locations such as the hangars or terminals. |
| Teleconverter: |
An optical system mounted between a camera body and the lens to increase the effective focal length of the lens. |
| Telephoto lens: |
A lens with a long focal length, longer than the diagonal of the film format used. |
| Temperature: |
The degree of hotness or coldness on a definite scale by means of a thermometer. |
| Test pilot: |
A pilot that is specially trained to test aircraft. Test pilots must be exceptional pilots, have a complete understanding of aeronautics and aerodynamics, and be able to accurately write and speak about what they see, feel and hear during the testing of a |
| Thermal: |
A rising column of warm air produced when the earth's surface is unevenly heated. Thermals often spiral upwards and can produce significant turbulence |
| Thermodynamics: |
In general terms, the relationships between heat and other properties (such as pressure, density, etc.) In forecast discussions, thermodynamics usually refers to the distribution of temperature and moisture (both vertical and horizontal) as related to the |
| Thrust: |
The propulsive force developed by a driven propeller or jet engine. |
| Thumbnail: |
A small version of a photo. Image browsers commonly display thumbnails of photos several or even dozens at a time. In Windows XP’s My Pictures, you can view thumbnails of photos in both the Thumbnails and Filmstrip view modes. |
| Thunder: |
The sound caused by a lightning stroke as it heats the air and causes it to rapidly expand. |
| Thunderstorm: |
A storm with lightning and thunder, produced by a cumulonimbus cloud, usually producing gusty winds, heavy rain and sometimes hail. |
| TIFF: |
A popular lossless image format used in digital photography. |
| Topographical: |
Maps and charts accurately representing surface features of a region.
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| Topography: |
Generally, the lay-out of major natural and man-made physical features of the earth's surface. |
| Touchdown zone: |
For fixed wing aircraft, the first 3000 feet of runway, beginning at the threshold and for rotary wings and vectored thrust aircraft, the portion of the helicopter landing area or runway used for landing. |
| Towering cumulus: |
Rapidly growing cumulus in which height exceeds width. |
| Track: |
Actual flight path of an aircraft over the ground. |
| Trailing Edge: |
The rear edge of a wing or tail surface. |
| Translational lift: |
In a helicopter it is the additional lift, or rotor thrust, obtained through airspeed because of increased efficiency of the rotor system. It occurs when transitioning from hover into forward flight or hovering in a strong wind |
| Transparency: |
The positive image in black and white or color, which is produced on transparent film. |
| Transponder: |
A receiver and transmitter in an aircraft that sends an encoded signal to aid radar controllers in identifying and tracking the aircraft. |
| Tripod: |
A three legged camera support. The legs usually feature sections that permit height adjustments. |
| Troposphere: |
The lower atmosphere, to a height of 8-15 km above Earth, where temperature generally decreases with altitude, clouds form, precipitation occurs, and convection currents are active. |
| True altitude: |
The exact distance above mean sea level.
|
| Turboprop: |
Aircraft with turbine driven propellers. |
| Turbulence: |
Disrupted flow in the atmosphere that produces gusts and eddies. At times this can be violent and can cause the up and down movement of a aircraft. |
| Twin Engine: |
Aircraft with two engines |
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