Aeronautical Terms beginning with B
Back Side Of The Power Curve
Flight regime in which flight at a higher airspeed requires a lower power setting and a lower airspeed requires a higher power setting in order to maintain altitude.
Balance tab
An auxiliary control mounted on a primary control surface, which automatically moves in the direction opposite the primary control to provide an aerodynamic assist in the movement of the control. Sometimes referred to as a servo tab.
Balanced Laterally
Balanced in such a way that the wings tend to remain level.
Ballast
A weight installed or carried in an aircraft to move the center of gravity to a location within its allowable limits.
Balloon
The result of a too aggressive flare during landing causing the aircraft to climb.
Basic Empty Weight
(GAMA) Standard empty weight plus optional equipment.
Basic Empty Weight (GAMA)
Basic empty weight includes the standard empty weight plus optional and special equipment that has been installed.
Basic Operating Index
The moment of the airplane at its basic operating weight divided by the appropriate reduction factor.
Basic Operating Weight (BOW)
The empty weight of the aircraft plus the weight of the required crew, their baggage and other standard item such as meals and potable water.
Best Angle Of Climb (Vx)
The speed at which the aircraft will produce the most gain in altitude in a given distance.
Best Glide
The airspeed in which the aircraft glides the furthest for the least altitude lost when in non-powered flight.
Best Rate Of Climb (Vy)
The speed at which the aircraft will produce the most gain in altitude in the least amount of time.
Bilge Area
The lowest part of an aircraft structure in which water and contaminants collect.
Biplanes
Airplanes with two sets of wings.
Blade Face
The flat portion of a propeller blade, resembling the bottom portion of an airfoil.
Boost Pump
An electrically driven fuel pump, usually of the centrifugal type, located in one of the fuel tanks. It is used to provide fuel to the engine for starting and providing fuel pressure in the event of failure of the engine driven pump. It also pressurizes the fuel lines to prevent vapor lock.
Brake horsepower
The power delivered at the propeller shaft (main drive or main output) of an aircraft engine.
Buffeting
The beating of an aerodynamic structure or surface by unsteady flow, gusts, etc.; the irregular shaking or oscillation of a vehicle component owing to turbulent air or separated flow.
Bus Bar
An electrical power distribution point to which several circuits may be connected. It is often a solid metal strip having a number of terminals installed on it.
Bus Tie
A switch that connects two or more bus bars. It is usually used when one generator fails and power is lost to its bus. By closing the switch, the operating generator powers both busses.
Butt (or buttock) Line Zero
A line through the symmetrical center of an aircraft from nose to tail. It serves as the datum for measuring the arms used to determine the lateral CG. Lateral moments that cause the aircraft to rotate clockwise are positive (+) , and those that cause it to rotate counterclockwise are negative (-).
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