T
Tail—A rear surface on an aeroplane designed to assist in maintaining longitudinal stability. It is in use principally on monoplanes, and is often so arranged as to serve as a rudder.
Tail Wheel—A wheel mounted under the rear end of an aeroplane as a part of the alighting gear.
Tangent—A straight line passing the convex side of a curved line, and touching it at one point only. The straight line is said to be tangent to the curve at the point of contact.
Tangential—In the position or direction of a tangent.
Tangent Spoke—A wire spoke extending from the outer edge of the hub of a wheel along the line of a tangent until it touches the rim. Its position is at right angles to the course of a [radial spoke] (which see) from the same point on the hub.
Tie—A construction member connecting two points with a pulling strain.
Tightener—A device for taking up the slack of a stay, or tie; as the turnbuckle.
Tractor Propeller—A propeller placed in front, so that it pulls the machine through the air, instead of pushing, or thrusting, it from behind.
Triplane—An aeroplane with three main surfaces, or decks, placed in a tier, one above another.
Turnbuckle—A device with a nut at each end, of contrary pitch, so as to take a right-hand screw at one end, and a left-hand screw at the other; used for drawing together, or toward each other the open ends of a stay, or tie.