Hi,

Here is the latest list, please advise of any additions or corrections.


ABC – Aluminum, Brass and Chrome
ABN – Aluminum, Brass and Nickle
AC – Alternating Current
Aft – to the back of boat, plane etc.
AMA – American Modeler’s Association, Academy of Model Aeronautics
AOA – Angle Of Attack
ARF – Almost Ready to Fly
ARC – Almost Ready to Cover
AUW – All Up Weight (total weight ready to fly. some include fuel, some don't... should include fuel though.)
BB – Ball Bearing
BC or B/C - because
BEC – Battery Eliminator Circuit
BTW – By the Way
CA – Cyanoacrylate Adhesive (a quick setting glue)
Carb – Carburetor
CCW – Counter Clock Wise
CF - Carbon Fiber
CG – Center of Gravity
CGM = Carl Goldberg Models
CP – Center of Pressure, or Coroplast (its like a plastic cardboard they make signs out of)
CW – Clock Wise
DC – Direct Current
Dead Stick – Motor stopped, flying without power
Dialed in – The model is perfectly tuned
Diameter – Regarding propellers, the distance from tip to tip of a propeller
DIY – Do It Yourself
E – Voltage (Example formula: E=IR)
ESC – Electric Speed Control
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
FFF – Fan Fold Foam
FG – Fiberglass
Flute – The veins in coroplast (the plastic cardboard) that is used in making SPAD model aircraft
Forward – to the front of boat, plane etc.
FSW – Forward Swept Wing
Fuse – Fuselage
FWIW – For What It’s Worth
FYI – For Your Information
g = grams
G = Gravity force factor. Example 1G = normal weight, 2G = two times weight
GB – Gear Box
GP = Great Planes Mfg. Co.
H9 = Hangar 9 Mfg Co
HOC – Hot Off the Charger
I – Current in amps (Example formula: I=E/R)
IMHO – In My Humble Opinion or In My Honest Opinion
IMNSHO - In my not so humble opinion
IMO – In My Opinion
IPR – Intelligent Power Reduce
JMHO – Just My Humble Opinion or Just my honest opinion
JMO – Just My Opinion
LAR – Looks About Right
LE – Leading Edge
LG – Landing Gear
LH – Left hand side (in reference to ships and airplanes – left hand side of pilot facing forward)
LiPo, or Li-Po, or Li-Poly – Lithium Polymer battery
Li-ion – Lithium Ion Battery
LOL – Lots Of Laughs, or Laugh Out Loud, or Lots Of Luck
LOA – Length Over All
LVC – Low Voltage Cutoff
LWL – Length at Water Line
MAAC – Model Aeronautics Association of Canada
mah – Milliamps per Hour
Max – Maximum
Min – Minimum
Mm – millimeter
MK = Monokote
mv – millivolt
Mode 1 – Transmitter with Aileron and Throttle on right stick, Rudder and Elevator on left stick
Mode 2 - Transmitter with Aileron and Elevator on right stick, Rudder and Throttle on left stick
Mode 3 – Transmitter with Rudder and Elevator on right stick, Aileron and Throttle on left stick
NIB – New In Box
NiCd – Nickle Cadium
NiMh – Nickle Metal Hydride
Oz – Ounces
P – Power in watts (Example formula: P=EI)
Pitch – In reference to propellers, the angle of propeller blade, the higher the number the greater the angle
Port – Left hand side (when pilot faces forward), or an opening in a boat or plane, or boat docking area
Prop - Propeller
R – resistance in ohms (Example formula: R=E/I)
RCU – RC Universe
RFI – Radio Frequency Interference
RH – Right hand side (in reference to airplanes – right hand side of pilot facing forward)
RPM – Rotations Per Minute
RPM/V – Rotations Per Minute per Volt
ROG – Rise Off Ground
ROW – Rise Off Water
Rx – Receiver
RTF – Ready To Fly
Sec – Seconds
Single Stick – Transmitter with one stick, Aileron and Elevator on X and Y axis, Rudder Knob on end of stick and Throttle a trim lever type control on the case
SPAD – Simple Plastic Airplane Design
Spec – Specification
Stall – in aircraft, the point where there is not enough lift to keep it flying
Starboard - Right hand side (when pilot faces forward)
STD – Standard
Stick Time – Time spent flying
T – Teeth (usually number on a gear)
TE – Trailing Edge
TO – Take Off
TOC – Tournament of Champions
Trammeling – Aligning fuselage, wings, horizontal stabilizer, vertical stabilizer and landing gear
Troll Post – A bulletin board posting designed to create controversy and may or may not be related to fact
Tx – Transmitter
UC = Ultracote
V – volts
V1 - Rotate
Vs - versus
VMGM –
VTOL – Vertical Take Off and Landing
WOT – Wide Open Throttle

The above is to the best of my knowledge, and should be considered a starting point. Please let me know any changes you would like to see, any suggestions are welcome.

Wayne Miller