Related Words

Air Speed Indicator: An instrument or device that measures the air speed of an aircraft through an air mass, but not its ground speed.

Indicated Airspeed (IAS): A direct instrument reading obtained from an air speed indicator uncorrected for altitude, temperature, atmospheric density, or instrument error. Compare CALIBRATED AIRSPEED and TRUE AIRSPEED.

True Air Speed (TAS): Because an air speed indicator indicates true air speed only under standard sea-level conditions, true air speed is usually calculated by adjusting an Indicated Air speed according to temper . . . View Full Definition

Laisse-Faire: Doctrine that a government should not interfere with business and economic affairs.

Oropharyngeal Airway: An airway adjunct placed in the mouth to help keep the pharynx open.

Lagging Indicators: Economic indicators that follow rather than precede the country's overall pace of economic activity. See also: Leading indicators and coincident indicators.

Laminar-Flow Airfoil: A low-drag airfoil designed to maintain laminar (smooth, continuous) flow over a high percentage of the CHORD about itself. Often relatively thin, especially along the leading edge, with mos . . . View Full Definition

Leading Economic Indicators: Economic series that tend to rise or fall in advance of the rest of the economy.

Light Sport Aircraft: Special FAA certification class (LSA) for an aircraft other than a helicopter or powered-lift—single-engine aircraft, airship, balloon, GLIDER, GYROCOPTER, ROTORCRAFT, weight-shift-control a . . . View Full Definition

Lens Speed: Largest lens opening (smallest f-number) at which a lens can be set. A fast lens transmits more light and has a larger opening than a slow lens. Determined by the maximum aperture of the len . . . View Full Definition