Decoding Aviation Lingo: A Pilot’s Glossary from Alpha to Zulu

Aviation, like many specialized fields, boasts its own unique vocabulary. From the flight deck of an aircraft carrier to the cockpit of a jet, pilots and crew members communicate using a colorful array of slang and jargon. This specialized language, developed over decades, enhances efficiency, clarity, and even camaraderie in the high-stakes world of flight operations. Whether you’re an aspiring aviator, an aviation enthusiast, or simply curious about the language spoken in the skies, understanding this lexicon can unlock a deeper appreciation for the complexities and culture of aviation.

This glossary delves into the fascinating world of aviation slang, offering definitions for terms used by pilots and aircrew. From everyday expressions to more obscure jargon, this guide will help you navigate the skies of aviation terminology.

A – “ALPHA”

• AAA – Anti-aircraft Artillery: Ground-based guns designed to shoot down aircraft.
• ACM – Air Combat Maneuvering: Also known as dogfighting, the art of aerial combat.
• Ack Ack guns: Another term for Anti-aircraft guns.
• Abaft: Towards the rear of the aircraft.
• Abeam: Located directly to the side of the aircraft, at the 3 or 9 o’clock position. Important for positional awareness.
• AGL – Above Ground Level: Altitude measured from the ground directly below the aircraft, as opposed to Mean Sea Level (MSL).
• Air Boss: The officer in charge of the Air Department on an aircraft carrier, responsible for all flight deck operations. The ultimate authority on deck.
• Air Wing: The complete group of aircraft assigned to an aircraft carrier, including fighters, attack jets, support aircraft, and helicopters.
• Alert 5/15/30/60: Readiness states for aircraft on standby. Alert 5 means an aircraft is manned and ready for launch within five minutes, and so on.
• Aluminum Cloud / Aluminum Overcast: Descriptive terms, sometimes used for large aircraft like the F-14, emphasizing their size.
• Alpha Mike Foxtrot – “AMF”: Phonetic alphabet for “Adios Mother F#cker,” used as a colorful expression of farewell or frustration.
• Angel: Carrier rescue helicopter, always on standby for emergencies.
• Angels: Altitude expressed in thousands of feet. “Angels fourteen” means 14,000 feet MSL.
• Anti-Smash: Aircraft strobe or anti-collision lights, crucial for visibility.
• Angle of Attack (AOA): The angle between the wing’s chord line and the oncoming airflow. Critical for controlling lift and avoiding stalls.
• Angles: In dogfighting, maneuvering to gain a favorable position on an opponent, ideally a zero angle, directly behind them.
• “Attaboy”: Highest praise from the Air Boss, signifying exceptional performance.

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Caption: Pilots rely on clear communication and understanding of aviation terms during flight operations.

B – “BRAVO”

• “Back to the Taxpayers”: Humorous euphemism for where wrecked aircraft end up.
• Bag: Flight suit or anti-exposure suit, essential gear for pilots.
• Bag Season: Cold weather or water conditions requiring the use of restrictive anti-exposure gear.
• Ball / Meatball: The amber light on the optical landing system (OLS) on an aircraft carrier, providing glide slope information to pilots. Similar to a PAPI or VASI on land.
• Bandit: Enemy aircraft, positively identified as hostile.
• Barberpole: Warning indication for unsafe landing gear or gear in transit – not fully up or down and locked.
• Basement: Hangar deck of an aircraft carrier, the storage and maintenance area below the flight deck.
• Bat Decoder: A sheet containing current communication codes, crucial for secure airborne communication.
• Bat-turn: A sharp, high-G turn, referencing the Batmobile’s rapid maneuvers in the old Batman TV series.
• Beaded Up: Anxious or excited, often before a challenging mission.
• Behind the Power Curve: Falling behind schedule or not meeting expectations.
• Bent: Damaged or broken, referring to aircraft or equipment.
• Bingo: Minimum fuel level required for a safe return to base. Pilots may fly past bingo fuel in combat but at increased risk.
• Bingo Field: A land-based airfield designated as an alternate landing site for carrier aircraft.
• Birds: Aircraft, a common general term.
• Blower: Afterburner, an engine setting for maximum thrust.
• Blue-Water Ops: Carrier operations far from land, beyond the range of land-based airfields.
• Boards Out: Speed brakes extended, used to slow down the aircraft.
• Boat: Any Navy ship, but “THE Boat” usually refers to the aircraft carrier.
• Bogey: Unidentified aircraft, potentially hostile.
• Bolt / Bolter: A failed carrier landing attempt where the tailhook misses all arresting wires, requiring a go-around.
• Boola-Boola: Radio call indicating a drone has been shot down.
• Boresight: Aligning a gun with its sights, but pilots also use it to describe fixating on minor details and losing the overall perspective.
• BOREX: Boring and repetitive exercise.
• Bought the Farm: Pilot killed in a crash. Originates from the historical practice of compensating farmers for crop damage from aircraft crashes, sometimes inflated to the point of symbolically “buying the farm.”
• Bounce / Tap: Surprise attack on another aircraft.
• Bounce and Blow: Touch and go landing, landing and immediately taking off again.
• Brain Housing Group: Humorous term for the skull or head.
• Bravo Zulu: Naval signal flags meaning “Well Done,” a high compliment.
• Bugout: To quickly leave a position or situation, often under duress.
• Bubbas: Fellow squadron members or pilots who fly the same type of aircraft.
• Bumping / Bumping Heads: Air Combat Maneuvering (ACM) or dogfighting.
• BuNo: Bureau Number, a permanent serial number assigned to each US Navy aircraft.
• Burner: Afterburner.
• Buster: Controller instruction to fly at maximum military power, meaning to hurry and go as fast as possible.

C – “CHARLIE”

• CAG – Commander of the Air Group: The commanding officer of the air wing on an aircraft carrier, the “chief pilot.”
• Carqual / CQ – Carrier Qualification: Required carrier takeoffs and landings to maintain currency and proficiency.
• Catshot: Carrier launch using a steam-powered catapult. A “cold cat” is a launch with insufficient power, a “hot cat” with excessive power.
• CAVU – Ceiling And Visibility Unlimited: Perfect flying weather conditions.
• Centurion: An aviator who has completed 100 carrier landings.
• Charlie: Planned landing time on an aircraft carrier.
• Charlie Foxtrot: Phonetic alphabet for “cluster-f#ck,” indicating a chaotic situation.
• Check Six: Visually scanning the rear quadrant (6 o’clock position) for threats. Refers to the clock system for situational awareness.
• Checking for Light Leaks: Taking a nap or resting.
• Cherubs: Altitude below 1,000 feet, measured in hundreds of feet. “Cherubs two” means 200 feet AGL.
• Clean: Aircraft configuration with landing gear and flaps retracted for optimal performance.
• Cold Nose / Lights out: Radar turned off. “My nose is cold” is a radio call used by Navy pilots before refueling from Air Force tankers.
• COD – Carrier On-Board Delivery: Aircraft used to transport cargo and personnel to and from aircraft carriers.
• Colorful Actions: Reckless or unauthorized low-level flying or showboating.
• Combat Dump / Sending an admiral to sea: Bowel movement before flying, a common pre-flight ritual.
• Cones / Nurkin Heads: Student pilots, often referred to derisively.
• Conning: Creating contrails, vapor trails from aircraft.
• Contract: Pre-briefed agreements and rules between crew members or wingmen, ranging from minor to critical procedures.
• Crossdeck Pendant: An arresting wire on an aircraft carrier or the connecting cable for VERTREP (Vertical Replenishment) helicopters.

D – “DELTA”

• Dash Two: The second aircraft in a formation, the wingman.
• Dead Heading: Pilots flying as passengers, not operating the aircraft.
• Deadstick: Approach and landing without engine power, an emergency procedure.
• Deck Spotter: Derogatory term for a pilot who glances at the flight deck instead of focusing on the Meatball during landing approach.
• Delta: Instruction for arriving aircraft to hold clear of the carrier and conserve fuel in a holding pattern.
• Delta Sierra: Phonetic alphabet for “dumb shit,” describing a foolish action.
• Departure: Loss of controlled flight, often due to exceeding angle of attack limits.
• Ditch: Forced landing in water, an emergency procedure.
• Dirty: Aircraft configured for landing with gear, flaps, and tailhook extended.
• Dot: Distant aircraft, appearing as a small dot on the horizon. “I’m a dot” means “I’m leaving.”
• Double Ugly / Rhino: Nickname for the F-4 Phantom fighter jet.
• Double Nuts: The CAG’s aircraft, typically numbered 100 or 00.
• Down: Not operational, broken, or unavailable. Applies to aircraft or personnel.
• Drift Factor: Measure of reliability or dependability. A high drift factor indicates unreliability.
• Driver / Jock: Pilot.

E – “ECHO”

• Echo Range: Training area at China Lake Naval Weapons Test Center with ground targets and threat simulators, used for advanced training like Top Gun.
• ECM – Electronic Countermeasures: Techniques and systems used to jam or deceive enemy radar, communications, and weapons systems.
• Electric Jet / Lawn Dart: Nickname for the F-16 Fighting Falcon, referring to its fly-by-wire controls and sleek design.
• ELINT – Electronic Intelligence: Gathering intelligence from electronic signals, such as radar or communications emissions.
• Envelope: The performance limits of an aircraft, operating at the edge of the envelope means pushing the aircraft to its maximum capabilities.

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Caption: Understanding aircraft performance envelopes is crucial for safe and effective flight.

F – “FOXTROT”

• FAG – Fighter Attack Guy: Derogatory term for F/A-18 Hornet pilots (sometimes used in inter-squadron rivalry).
• Fangs Out: Eager for a dogfight, aggressive and ready for combat.
• Fangs Sunk in Floorboard: Aggressive pilot who becomes the victim in a dogfight.
• FARP – Fleet ACM Readiness Program: Periodic training program for Fleet Air Wings, focusing on dogfighting skills.
• FASO – Flight Physiology Training: Recurrent safety training emphasizing physiological stressors and conditions encountered in flight.
• FAST – Fleet Air Superiority Training: Advanced air combat training program.
• Father: Slang for shipboard TACAN (Tactical Air Navigation) station, a navigation aid.
• Feet Wet / Feet Dry: Naval aviation terms indicating flying over water (feet wet) or land (feet dry).
• Flathatting: Unauthorized low-altitude and reckless flying.
• Flare: Nose-up attitude during landing for most land-based aircraft. Carrier jets don’t flare to reduce landing distance. Also refers to the final phase of helicopter autorotation.
• “Flare to land, squat to pee”: Navy pilot’s humorous description of Air Force landing techniques, highlighting the no-flare carrier landing.
• Fly-by-wire: Electronic control system where aircraft control surfaces are operated by computer signals, not direct mechanical linkages.
• FM – “f#cking magic”: Describes advanced technology or complex systems that seem incomprehensible.
• FOD – Foreign Object Damage: Damage to engines caused by ingesting debris from the runway or flight deck. A major concern in aviation.
• Forced landing: Emergency landing due to loss of power or critical failure.
• Fox One / Two / Three: Radio calls indicating the launch of air-to-air missiles: Sparrow (Fox One), Sidewinder (Fox Two), Phoenix (Fox Three).
• Furball: Confused and chaotic aerial dogfight with multiple aircraft involved.

G – “GOLF”

• Gs / G-loading: Gravitational forces experienced during maneuvers. One G is normal gravity; higher G-loads exert multiples of the pilot’s weight on their body.
• G-suit / Speed Jeans: Special trousers that inflate during high-G maneuvers to prevent blood pooling and G-LOC.
• Gaff Off: Ignore or disregard.
• Gate: Afterburner.
• Gigahertz and Nanoseconds: Extremely technical and complex details, difficult to understand.
• Gizmo: Generic term for a piece of technical equipment or gadget.
• G-LOC – Gravity induced loss of consciousness: Loss of consciousness due to excessive G-forces restricting blood flow to the brain.
• Glove: The large wing root of the F-14 Tomcat, housing the variable-geometry wing mechanism.
• Go Juice: Jet fuel.
• God: The ultimate authority or person in charge, often used sarcastically.
• Goes Away: What happens to a target when hit by a missile.
• Golden Leg Spreaders: Pilot wings, awarded upon completion of flight training.
• Gomer: Slang for a dogfight adversary, derived from the Gomer Pyle TV show.
• Goo / Soup / IMC: Bad weather conditions with low visibility, flying in clouds (Instrument Meteorological Conditions).
• Goon Up: To make a mistake or screw up.
• Gouge / Poop / Skinny: Latest inside information or news.
• Green Apple: The control knob for the cockpit’s emergency oxygen supply.
• Greenie Board / Weenie Board: Scoreboard in the squadron where Landing Signal Officers (LSOs) grade carrier landings.
• Gripe: A mechanical problem or malfunction on an aircraft. “Up gripe” is a minor issue, “down gripe” grounds the aircraft.
• Groove: Ideal position on final approach for carrier landing, maintaining correct glide slope, AOA, and alignment with the Meatball.

H – “HOTEL”

• Hamburger Helper: The bombardier-navigator (B/N) or Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) in two-seat aircraft.
• Hangar Queen: An aircraft that is frequently out of service due to maintenance issues, often cannibalized for parts.
• Hard Deck: Minimum altitude for simulated air combat engagements, ensuring safety. Early Top Gun exercises had a 10,000-foot AGL hard deck.
• Hawk Circle: Holding pattern stack of aircraft waiting to land on an aircraft carrier.
• Head on a Swivel / Doing the Linda Blair: Constantly scanning for enemy aircraft, referencing the 360-degree head rotation in “The Exorcist.”
• Heater / Heatseeker: Sidewinder missile, which uses infrared guidance to track heat sources.
• Helo: Universal term for helicopter in the Navy and Marine Corps.
• High PRF – Pulse Repetition Frequency: Radar term, also used to describe someone overly excitable.
• High Warble: Unduly agitated or nervous.
• Hop / Mission / Flight: A single flight or mission.
• HOTAS – Hands On Throttle And Stick: Control system design allowing pilots to operate essential controls without removing hands from the throttle and stick.
• HUD – Heads Up Display: Transparent screen displaying flight information and weapon system data in the pilot’s forward field of view.
• Huffer: Jet engine start cart, ground support equipment.
• Hummer: E-2 Hawkeye early warning aircraft, named for the sound of its turboprop engines.

I – “INDIA”

• IFR – Instrument Flight Rules: Regulations for flying in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), relying on instruments rather than visual references.
• Indian Night Noises: Creaking, popping, and shuddering sounds of an aircraft in flight, especially at night.
• In-Flight Engagement: Catching the arresting wire on a carrier landing before the wheels touch down, can damage the aircraft.
• In the Spaghetti: Successfully catching the arresting wires on the carrier deck.
• INS – Inertial Navigation System: Navigation system using gyros to calculate position without external references, allowing for precise navigation anywhere.

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Caption: Modern aircraft rely on sophisticated navigation systems like INS for accurate positioning.

J – “JULIET”

• JBD – Jet Blast Deflector: Heat-resistant panels on aircraft carriers to protect deck personnel and equipment from jet exhaust.
• Jink: A quick, evasive maneuver to avoid a threat.
• Jock / Driver: Pilot.
• JP-4 / JP-5: Types of jet fuel. The smell is often nostalgic for aviators.
• Judy: Radio call indicating visual contact with the target and taking over the intercept.

K – “KILO”

• Kick the Tires and Light the Fires: Expediting the pre-flight checks, getting ready to go quickly.
• Knife Fight in a Phone Booth / Knife-fight: Close-quarters, slow-speed aerial dogfight.

L – “LIMA”

• LEAPEX ~ A jump-through-your ass drill: Urgent, often unnecessary, task that needs immediate attention.
• Lethal Cone / Cone of Vulnerability: Area directly behind an aircraft’s tailpipe, the optimal position for infrared missile attacks.
• Lights Out: Radar switched off.
• Lineup: Aligning the aircraft with the runway or carrier flight deck for landing.
• Lost the Bubble: Confused or disoriented, losing situational awareness.
• Loading / Unloading: Increasing or decreasing G-force and angle of attack in maneuvers.
• Loud Handle: Ejection seat handle.
• LSO – Landing Signals Officer / Paddles: Experienced pilot responsible for guiding aircraft during carrier landings and grading pilot performance.

M – “MIKE”

• Martin-Baker Fan Club: Humorous reference to pilots who have ejected, Martin-Baker being a major ejection seat manufacturer.
• Meatball: The visual glideslope indicator on a carrier landing system. “Call the Ball” is the pilot’s radio call indicating they see and are referencing the Meatball.
• Merge / Merged Plot: Point where opposing aircraft meet in simulated combat after being vectored by radar.
• CAP – Combat Air Patrol: Aircraft patrol to protect ground forces or other aircraft from enemy air attacks.
• Military Power: Maximum engine thrust without using afterburner.
• Mini-Boss: Assistant Air Boss on an aircraft carrier.
• Mort: “Killed” or defeated in simulated air combat.
• Mother / Mom: The aircraft carrier from which a pilot is deployed.
• Mud-mover / Ground-pounder: Low-level attack aircraft.
• Music: Electronic jamming intended to disrupt enemy radar.
• My Fun Meter is Pegged: Sarcastic comment for “I am not enjoying this at all.”

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Caption: Maintaining situational awareness and clear communication are vital in dynamic flight environments.

N – “NOVEMBER”

• NATOPS – Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization: Standardized procedures and manuals for naval aviation operations.
• NFO – Naval Flight Officer / No Future Occupation / walkin’-talkin’ navbag: Non-pilot officer in naval aviation, often navigators, weapons systems officers, or Radar Intercept Officers (RIOs).
• NFWS – Navy Fighter Weapons School / Top Gun: Elite fighter pilot training school.
• Nice Vapes: Dramatic vapor trails caused by high speed at low altitude or high G-forces.
• No-Load: An underachiever or someone who doesn’t contribute much.
• No Joy: Failure to establish visual contact or radio communication.
• Nugget / FNG – Fucking New Guy: A first-tour aviator, new to the squadron or fleet.
• Nylon Letdown / Hitting the silk: Ejection and parachute descent.

O – “OSCAR”

• OAST – Overland Air Superiority Training: Training exercise over land, integrating all elements of a carrier air wing.
• On the Mouse: Using the flight deck radio circuit with a headset resembling Mickey Mouse ears.
• Opportunity to excel: Sarcastic term for an undesirable task with insufficient resources or time.
• Oversweep: F-14 Tomcat folding its wings fully aft (72 degrees) for carrier storage.

P – “PAPA”

• Padlocked: Having an enemy aircraft firmly in sight, unable to escape.
• Painted: Being scanned by radar.
• Passing Gas: Aerial refueling by a tanker aircraft.
• Pass: Head-on approach of two aircraft in simulated combat or a landing attempt on a carrier.
• Penalty Box: Holding area for aircraft that receive a wave-off or bolter on carrier approach.
• Pickle: LSO’s device to activate the “cut” light on the OLS; also, to drop bombs or external fuel tanks.
• Pinging On: Paying close attention, focusing intently.
• Pinkie: Carrier landing at twilight, between sunset/sunrise and full darkness. Officially a night landing, but considered easier.
• Pit: Rear seat position in a two-seat aircraft.
• Pitch: Aircraft’s nose attitude relative to the horizon.
• PLAT – Pilot Landing Aid Television: Video recording system for carrier launches and landings, used for analysis and training.
• Playmates: Pilots of other aircraft on the same mission.
• Plumber: An unskilled or inept pilot.
• Pointy End: The front of a ship, especially an aircraft carrier.
• Poopy suit: Anti-exposure suit worn over a flight suit.
• Popeye: Flying in clouds or low visibility (IMC).
• Power Puke / Power Barf: Projectile vomiting due to airsickness.
• Pole / Stick: Control stick or flight controls.
• Prang: To damage or crash an aircraft.
• Pucker Factor: Level of fear or anxiety during a dangerous situation.
• Puke: Pilot who flies a different type of aircraft, e.g., “fighter puke” or “attack puke.”
• Punch Out: To eject from an aircraft.

Q – “QUEBEC”

R – “ROMEO”

• R2D2: RIO (Radar Intercept Officer), referencing the Star Wars robot backseater.
• Ramp Strike: Landing short and hitting the ramp of the aircraft carrier.
• Radome: Protective fiberglass housing for a radar antenna.
• RAG – Replacement Air Group / FRS – Fleet Replacement Squadron: Squadron for training newly qualified pilots on specific aircraft types.
• Red Flag: Advanced air combat training exercise conducted by the US Air Force at Nellis AFB, Nevada.
• Rhino: Nickname for the F-4 Phantom.
• RIO – Radar Intercept Officer / Scope: Back-seat crewmember in F-14 Tomcat and F-4 Phantom, responsible for radar operation and navigation.
• Rocket One: The commanding officer or skipper.
• Roof: The flight deck of an aircraft carrier.

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Caption: Flight deck operations on an aircraft carrier are a highly coordinated and complex dance of personnel and machinery.

S – “SIERRA”

• SA – Situational Awareness: Understanding the aircraft’s position, environment, threats, and mission status. Crucial for flight safety and mission success.
• SAM – Surface-to-air missile: Ground-launched missile designed to attack aircraft.
• SAR – Search and Rescue: Operations to locate and rescue downed aircrew or others in distress.
• Scooter: Nickname for the A-4 Skyhawk aircraft.
• Scope: A RIO (Radar Intercept Officer).
• Section: Two aircraft flying together as a tactical unit.
• Shoe / Ground pounder: Derogatory term for non-flying personnel, contrasting with aviators (“brown shoes”).
• Shooter: Catapult officer on an aircraft carrier, responsible for launching aircraft.
• Sierra Hotel – “Shit Hot”: High praise, meaning excellent or impressive.
• Smoking Hole: Aircraft crash site.
• SNAG – Mechanical malfunction: A problem or defect with an aircraft component.
• Sniffer: Device on the flight deck checking for proper IFF (Identify Friend or Foe) transmissions from aircraft.
• Snuggle Up / Bring it in: To move closer in formation flight.
• Sortie: A single mission flown by one aircraft.
• Speed of Heat / Warp One: Very fast.
• Speed Slacks / Speed Jeans: G-suit.
• Spooled Up: Excited or keyed up.
• Spud Locker: The aft end of the carrier flight deck, undesirable landing area.
• State: Fuel quantity remaining. “Say your state” is a request for fuel status. “State one plus two zero to splash” means 1 hour and 20 minutes of fuel remaining until fuel exhaustion (“splash”).
• Stick / Stick – Throttle Interconnect: Pilot.
• Sweet: Operational and functioning correctly.

T – “TANGO”

• TACAN – Tactical Air to Navigation: Navigation system providing bearing and distance to a ground station.
• TACTS – Tactical Aircrew Combat Training System: System using sensors and computers to record and display air combat maneuvers in real-time for debriefing.
• Tank / Texaco: Aerial refueling or tanker aircraft (e.g., KC-135, KC-10).
• Tango Uniform – “tits up”: Broken, not functioning, out of service.
• Three Down and Locked: Landing gear fully extended and locked, required confirmation before landing at Air Force bases.
• Three-Nine Line: Imaginary line across an aircraft’s wingspan. In dogfighting, aiming to keep the adversary within your three-nine line.
• Throttle Back / Power back: To reduce engine power and slow down.
• Tiger: An aggressive and skilled pilot.
• Tits Machine: Nostalgic term for a highly regarded or iconic aircraft, often from the past.
• Top Off: To refuel to full capacity.
• Trap: Arrested landing on an aircraft carrier or helicopter landing with a Rapid Securing Device (RSD).
• Trick-or-Treat: Situation where a missed carrier landing (bolter) requires aerial refueling (tanking).
• Turkey: Nickname for the F-14 Tomcat.
• Tweak: To fine-tune or adjust a system or setting.
• Twirly: Anti-collision beacon or rotating light on an aircraft.

U – “UNIFORM”

• Up: Operational, working, not broken.
• Up on the Governor: About to lose control or have a tantrum, referencing engine governor malfunction.
• Up to Speed / Up to Snuff: Understanding the situation or current information.

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Caption: Continuous learning and adaptation are essential for pilots to stay “up to speed” in aviation.

V – “VICTOR”

• V-speeds: Critical airspeed limitations for aircraft operations (e.g., Vlo – Landing Gear Operating Speed, Vlr – Velocity for landing gear retraction).
• Varsity Play for the Deck: A skillfully executed carrier landing.
• VSTOL / VTOL – Very/Vertical Short Takeoff and Landing: Aircraft capable of very short or vertical takeoff and landing.
• Vulture’s Row: Observation gallery on an aircraft carrier island, for viewing flight deck operations.

W – “WHISKEY”

• Warm Fuzzy: Feeling of confidence and security.
• Warthog: Universal nickname for the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft.
• Wash Out: To fail to meet the standards in flight school.
• Waveoff: Order from the LSO for a pilot to abort a carrier landing approach.
• Whiskey Charlie – “Who cares”: Expression of indifference.
• Whiskey Delta – “weak dick”: Derogatory term for an incompetent pilot.
• Widomaker: F-104 Starfighter, due to its high accident rate.
• Winder: Sidewinder missile.
• Wingman: Pilot flying the second aircraft in a two-ship formation.
• Workups: Pre-deployment exercises and tests to prepare a ship and air wing for operations.

X – “X-RAY”

Y – “YANKEE”

• “Yank and Bank”: Aggressive maneuvering with steep climbs and banks, involving high G-loads.

Z – “ZULU”

• Zero-Dark-Thirty: Very early morning, before sunrise, often referring to operations conducted in the pre-dawn hours.
• Zone 1 / Zone 5: Afterburner settings on the F-14 Tomcat: Zone 1 is minimum, Zone 5 is maximum afterburner.
• Zoombag: Flight suit.

Caption: Aviation slang is a rich and evolving language, reflecting the culture and challenges of flight.

This glossary provides a glimpse into the unique language of aviation. Understanding these terms offers a deeper appreciation for the skills, traditions, and camaraderie within the world of flight. From the flight deck to the skies, this specialized language is an integral part of aviation culture.