ESP

missile launch rail 

Device used to launch the missile.

canopy 

Glass window covering the cockpit.

ejection seat 

Seat designed to be projected from the aircraft in the event of an emergency.

radome 

Rigid casing that radio waves can pass through; it protects the radar system.

motor air inlet 

Part that supplies the turbojet with the air required for combustion.

front landing gear 

Retractable mechanism that enables the aircraft to land; it is located at the front end.

main landing gear 

Retractable mechanism that enables the aircraft to land; it is located behind the aircraft’s center of gravity under its wings.

leading edge flap 

Articulated panel on the front of the wing.

wing 

Horizontal surface on which aerodynamic forces are exerted to keep the aircraft in the air.

trailing edge flap 

Articulated flap on the trailing edge of the wing that deploys downward to increase the aircraft’s lift on takeoff.

air brake 

Aerodynamic flap at the back of the aircraft; it is used to reduce speed on landing.

fin 

Fixed vertical part of the tail assembly that keeps the aircraft stable.

radar antenna 

Antenna designed to detect objects by emitting radio waves and capturing the echo they reflect.

rudder 

Mobile part of the tail assembly that is used to balance the yaw (lateral movement) of an aircraft.

exhaust nozzle 

Conduit through which hot gases from the turbojet engine are released.

parachute 

Device that opens from the tail of the aircraft to reduce speed on landing.

stabilizer 

Wing made up of the fixed horizontal tail assembly; it stabilizes the aircraft horizontally.

roll 

Rotational movement of an aircraft around its longitudinal axis; it is caused by an imbalance in the lift of the wings.

pitch 

Rotational movement of an aircraft around its transverse axis; it is caused by an imbalance of pressure on the nose and tail.

yaw 

Aircraft’s rotational motion around its vertical axis; it is caused by an imbalance of pressure on the leading edges of the wings.

rudder 

Automated device that guides the missile during flight.

fin 

Ailerons that stabilize the missile during flight.

rocket motor 

Engine that provides the thrust to propel the missile.

fixed winglet 

Ailerons that improve stability during flight.

exhaust duct 

Opening through which the exhaust gases are evacuated; the duct is usually cone-shaped in order to narrow the gas flow, thus increasing thrust.

power turbine 

Turbine that is driven by the gases expelled by the combustion chamber; it drives the axial compressor and the fan. It is independent of the compressor turbine.

ignition box 

Device that produces the electric pulses supplying the system that sets off combustion.

compressor turbine 

Turbine that is activated by the gas produced in the combustion chamber; it drives the centrifugal compressor and the accessories.

fuel control 

Device measuring the amount of fuel injected into the combustion chamber.

accessory gearbox 

Mechanism that drives various accessories such as the alternator and the hydraulic, fuel and oil pumps.

mounting point 

Part where the engine is mounted on the aircraft.

nose cone 

Part located on the tip of the fan axle that creates an aerodynamic airflow into the fan blades.

exhaust guide vanes 

Protruding parts directing the exhaust gases straight out.

bypass duct 

Channel that conducts some of the air sucked in by the fan, which contributes to the engine’s thrust.

annular combustion chamber 

Enclosure consisting of two concentric hydraulic cylinders that surrounds the turbine-compressor shaft and where combustion occurs.

turbine-compressor shaft 

Axle transmitting the turbine’s rotational movement to the compressors.

pipe diffuser 

Conduit with several exit orifices that connects the centrifugal compressor to the combustion chamber; its purpose is to direct the flow and slow down the airflow to increase its pressure.

centrifugal compressor 

Engine components that use centrifugal force to compress air and expel it at very high speed to the combustion chamber by the pipe diffuser.

inner stators 

Set of fixed blades that corrects the airflow that is deflected as it passes through the blades of the axial compressor.

outer stators 

Set of fixed blades that corrects the airflow that is deflected as it passes through the fan.

axial compressor 

Engine component in which air is highly compressed by a set of small fan blades to increase the engine’s output and reduce fuel consumption.

exhaust 

Phase during which the air expands and produces a thrust that activates the turbines and propels the turbofan engine.

combustion 

Phase during which the compressed air enters the combustion chamber, where it is mixed with fuel and ignited.

compression 

Phase during which some of the air flowing through the engine is compressed before it enters the combustion chamber.

fan 

Blower sucking air into the turbofan engine.

weight 

Force resulting from the effect of the Earth’s gravity acting on the aircraft’s mass; the force of the engines must overpower this to keep the aircraft in the air.

drag 

Force opposite to thrust that creates resistance to the aircraft’s forward movement and must be reduced.

lift 

Force exerted on an aircraft’s wings to keep it in the air when a certain forward speed is reached.

thrust 

Force developed by the engine’s propeller pulling it forward; in jet aircraft, thrust is created by the force of the ducts.