Page:Dictionary of aviation.djvu/59

 DICTIONARY OF AVIATION 35

automatic balance, balance or equilibration of a flyings machine by automatic or self-acting mechanism; automatic equilibrium; automatic stability.

balance 'baelans tr. maintain in a state of equilibrium or equipoise; keep stedy; equilibrate, stabilize, peise.

balancer 'baefon-saz n.

1. one of a pair of slender processes with clubd ends placed near the insertion of the wings in a dipterous in- sect or a male ceccid, supposed to aid in balancing or equilibrating the insect^; a halter; a peiser.

2. a rope for balancing or maintaining the equilibrium of a balloon; an equilibrator ; a guide-rope.

balancing-head 'baetensirjjied n. a hed or fore-part of a kite, designed to aid in balancing or equilibrating.

balancing-machinery 'bseten-sirj-ma^ii-na-zi n. machinery or apparatus in an air-craft, used for balancing or equili- brating.

balancing-plane 'baetensir^pteen n. a plane or aeroplane used for balancing; an aerofoil employd for maintaining the equilibrium of a flying-machine; a balancing-surface; a stabilizing-surface ; an aileron.

balancing-rudder 'baefonsin^Adaz. a rudder in a flying- machine, used for balancing or equilibrating.

balancing-skill 'baelansin/skil n. skill in balancing; dex- terity in maintaining equipoise during flight.

balancing-surface 'baetonsir^sezfis n. an aerofoil surface used in balancing or equilibrating a flying-machine or airship; a stabilizing-surf ace ; a balancing-plane.

balancing-tail 'bselsnsir^teel n. the tail of a kite or flying- machine designed for balancing or maintaining the equi- librium of the whole craft in the air; a trailer.

ballast 'baetast n. hevy material, especially sand or gravel, carried in a balloon or airship and used to throw overboard and thus lighten the load, giving the craft a tendency to rise. floating ballast, ballast luhich is designed to float upon the surface of water, as that sometimes attacht to the guide- rope of a balloon.

ballast 'baebst tr, furnish with ballast; regulate the ballast ef.

ballast-bag 'baelastjbaeg n. a bag for containing ballast; a sand-bag.

ballast-sand 'bsetes^ssend n. sand used for ballast in a bal- loon or airship.

ballast-thrower 'baei3st,050o-3z n. a device for throwing or discharging ballast from a balloon.

ballonet ,baete'net n. [also spelt ballonette and, less prop- erly, ballonnet, balloonet, balloonette]

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