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aer·o·tow [air-uh-toh] –verb (used with object)
1. to tow (a sailplane) through the air
–noun
2. the act of aerotowing
Our #1 Pet Peeves
Flier is a person – “he is a great flier”
Flyer is an object – “a promotional flyer for our aerotow”
Epoxy cures or hardens (not dries)
Common RC Terms and Phrases
aerotow not hyphenated. It frequently appears many ways, but Webster’s defines it as one word. Don’t mind our stylistic treatment of R/C Aero-Towing.com we’re fancier than we have a right to be.
airfoil is one word
airspeed is one word
all-wood construction
amp-hours
ARF- almost ready to fly (drives the all-wood and composite scratchbuilt guys nuts)
bandsaw is one word (watch your fingers)
built-up construction is hyphenated
climb out used as two words
coarse is what sandpaper can be or how your vulgar buddies act. Of “course” is a statement
conrod is one word (connects rod, piston and crankshaft)
failsafe is one word
flare not flair (unless you are a waitress at Chili’s)
flight line is two words
fly-by is hyphenated
freestyle
full-size
full power throttle there is no hyphen between full and power.
full-scale is hyphenated
fun fly is two words, not hyphenated
hairpin is one word
handlaunch (handlaunching, handlaunched)
heat sink is two words
heat-shrink is hyphenated
hold-down plate; hold-down bolts are hyphenated
knife edge is two words
lite-ply is hyphenated
mph is lowercase
NA –uppercase and no slash between the letters, not n/a
propwash is one word
pushrod is one word
rpm is lowercase
scale-like is hyphenated
scratchbuilt is one word. scratch builder is two words. We respect them both the most!
tailwheel is one word
takeoff is one word
test-fit is hyphenated
thread-lock is hyphenated
tow plane is two words, not hyphenated
tow release is two words, not hyphenated
turtledeck is one word
V-bend
Whattmeter, not wattmeter
wingspan is one word
Z-bend
Abbreviation Rules
A abbreviation for amps, no period
g is the abbreviation for gram(s)
lbs. is the abbreviation for pounds
Li-Poly for Lithium Polymer cells
MHz abbreviation for megahertz, no period
GHz gigahertz, as in 2.4 GHz
mph abbreviation for miles per hour. It is written with no period and there is a space separating it from the number: can you land at 80 mph?
mAh abbreviation for milliamp-hour, no period, slammed: 1300mAh battery
in.-oz. inch-ounce (torque)
mA milliamps
rpm plural of rpm is rpm, as in “revolutions per minute”
Rx Receiver
Tx Transmitter
RC abbreviation for radio control is always capitalized
RC models should be referred to as “radio control” models, not as “radio controlled” models.
Propeller sizes are indicated in English inches with a small “x” between diameter and pitch values—these values and the x are slammed together: That tow plane has a Zoar 22×10 prop.
NiCd for nickel cadmium cells
NiMH for nickel metal hydride cells
V abbreviation for volts, no period and uppercase
W abbreviation for watts, no period
Abbreviating numbers and measurements
In running text spell out words like ounces, pounds, square feet but okay to use abbreviations when combining a lot of info in a single phrase, e.g.,:
“12in. x 48in. lite-ply sheet”
“The wing loading rose to 20 oz./sq. ft. with ballast”
“The prop was changed from a 24×8 to 24×10.
“We used a 10g servo” (g, abbreviation for gram, is slammed)
In all other cases, spell out inches and other measurements in running text: Cut the rod to size, collar both ends with 1/4 inch K&S brass tubing and glue the collar to the rod with thin CA.
No hyphen between 1/4 and inch: 1/4 inch (unless it modifies a noun) – 1/4-inch wire
Other
Quote marks are placed on the outside of commas and periods.
Plurals. No apostrophe in making numerals plural, e.g., “the tow plane was flying figure 8s.”
40-size NOT 40-sized
Battery capacity – no commas: 1200mAh, not 1,200mAh
Comment: Don’t always trust the spell checker in your word processing program. There are unique terms and phrases in the RC soaring hobby. When finished writing a piece, set it aside for awhile and then come back with fresh eyes. You’ll be surprised by the things you’ll see.
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