Acronyms and Other Definitions

If you are reading any Blackbird related literature or web sites, you may want to take a look at these acronyms and other definitions for reference. When preparing these, I made sure that every one of the following applies specifically to Blackbird programs.

• AB - afterburner
• ACC - Air Command Combat
• AD - Aerodynamic Disturbance
• ADF - Automatic Direction Finder
• ADI - Altitude Direction Indicator
• ADP - Advanced Development Projects
• ADS - Accessory Drive System
• AFB - Air Force Base
• AFCS - Automatic Flight Control System
• ALCM - Air Launched Cruise Missle
• AIC - Air Inlet Computer
• AIM - Air Intercept Missle
• AMRAAM - Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missle
• AMS - Avionics Maintenance Squadron
• ANGEL - Code-name For The U-2 Project
• ANS - Astro-inertial Navigation System
• AOA - Angle of Attack
• APW - Automatic Pitch Warning
• ARCHANGEL - Code-name For Early Blackbird Designs
• ARCP - Air Refueling Control Point
• ARCT - Air Refueling Control Time
• AREA 51 - Groom Lake, NV
• ASARS - Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar System
• AWACS - Airborne Warning And Control System
• BLACK SHIELD - Code-name For The A-12 Operations
• CAPRE - Capability Reconnaissance
• CG - Center of Gravity
• CIA - Central Intelligence Agency
• CINCLANT - Commander In Chief Atlantic
• CINCSAC - Commander In Chief SAC
• CIT - Compressor Inlet Temperature
• COLD WALL - Name Of The Research Project At NASA Dryden
• CPA - Closest Point of Approach
• CR - Combat Ready
• CRM - Cockpit Resource Management
• CSD - Constant Speed Drive
• CSIS - Center for Strategic and International Studies
• DAFICS - Digital Automatic Flight and Inlet Control System
• DCI - Director of Central Intelligence
• DEF - Defensive Systems
• DET - Detachment
• DFRC - Dryden Flight Research Center
• DIA - Director of Intelligence Agency
• DME - Distance Measuring Equipment
• DMZ - Demilitarized Zone
• DPM - Drips Per Minute
• DPR - Duct Pressure Ratio
• EAR - End Air Refueling Point
• ECM - Electronic Counter Measures
• EEG - Electroencephalogram
• EGT - Exhaust Gas Temperature
• EIP - EMR Improvement Program
• ELINT - Electronic Intelligence
• EMR - Electro Magnetic Recorder
• ENP - Engine Nozzle Position
• EPT - Effective Performance Time
• FCF - Functional Check Flight
• FCO - Fire Control Officer
• FCS - Fire Control System
• FISH - Code-name For The Convair Parasite Aircraft
• FRS - Flight Reference System
• FYDP - Five Year Defense Plan
• GCA - Ground Controlled Approach
• GCI - Ground Controlled Intercept
• GMT - Greenwich Mean Time
• GUSTO - Code-name For Stealth Studies
• HABU - Nickname For The Blackbird
• HSI - Horizontal Situation Indicator
• ICBM - Inter Continental Ballistic Missile
• IGV - Inlet Guide Vane
• ILS - Instrument Landing System
• INS - Inertial Navigation System
• IP - Instructor Pilot
• JP - Jet Propellant
• JRC - Joint Reconnaissance Center
• KEAS - Knot Equivalent Air Speed
• KIAS - Knot Indicated Air Speed
• KINGFISH - Code-name For Convair Competitor To ARCHANGEL
• KTAS - Knots True Air Speed
• NASA - National Aeronautics & Space Administration
• NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization
• NOTAM - Notice To Airmen
• NRO - National Reconnaissance Office
• NSA - National Security Agency
• NWS - Nose Wheel Steering
• OBC - Optical Bar Camera
• OL 8 - Operating Location 8 (Kadena)
• OXCART - CIA Code-name For A-12
• PSD - Physiological Support Division
• PVD - Peripheral Vision Device
• RAF - Royal Air Force
• RAM - Radar Absorbing Material
• RSO - Reconnaissance Systems Officer
• RW - Reconnaissance Wing
• SAC - Strategic Air Command
• SAM - Surface To Air Missile
• SAS - Stability Augmentation System
• SENIOR BOWL - D-21/B-52 Program
• SLR - Side Looking Radar
• SRC - Strategic Reconnaissance Center
• SRS - Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
• SRW - Strategic Reconnaissance Wing
• TAC - Tactical Air Command
• TACAN - Tactical Air Navigation
• TAGBOARD - D-21/M-21 Program
• TAS - True Air Speed
• TEB - Triethylborane
• UAV - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle