Operational Brevity words, BFM terminology, and Military Aviation Acronyms

Glossary terms starting with "R"



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R.O.A.D.
Retired On Active Duty, refers to someone who is approaching retirement so they don't care about getting any real work accomplished.
Ra
Maximum aerodynamic missile range.
RAD
Radio (e.g., RAD 1 or RAD 2)
Radial G
The vectored sum of cockpit G and gravity.
Ranch House (Altitude)
Directive or informative indicating subject fighters will return to CAP.
Range Wind
That component of a wind that is parallel to the attack axisi.e., headwind or tailwind.
Rapid City Freestyle
Launching an aircraft as quickly as possible, disregarding normal procedure. Originally from the Alert Launches of B-52’s at Ellsworth Air Force Base (formally Rapid City AFB, Iowa). "I'm late Chief. Sure thing Captain, one Rapid City Freestlye coming up."
RAT
Ram-Air Turbine
Rate Of Turn
Rate of change of heading, normally measured in degrees per second.
Raygun (Position/Azimuth/Altitude)
Radar lock-on to unknown aircraft. Request Buddy Spike/Naked reply.
RCC
Rescue Coordination Center.
RCFI
Radio Channel/Frequency Indicator
RCPU
Replacement Central Processing Unit
RCR
Runway Condition Reading
RCVV
Rear Compressor Variable Vanes
RDR
Radar
RDY
Ready
Recce
Reconnaissance.
Red (Risk Estimate Distances)
Reference MCM 3-1, Volume VIII. These distances are reasonable figures for employing weapons near friendly forces in combat and are not minimum safe distances for peacetime training use.
Reference (Direction)
Directive to assume stated heading.
Reference (Heading)
Heading to fly as directed by the flight lead. Reference 270.
REL
Release
Relative Wind
The oncoming, instantaneous wind. For practical purposes, the direction of the relative wind is exactly opposite the flight path of the airplane.
Reno
Indicates that more than one radar contact is observed and aircrew is able to distinguish the assigned target from chicks. Does not imply sorted.
REO
Radar/Electro-Optical
RER
Radial Error Rate
Reroll
To have planned event or location changed by HHQ while airborne
RET SRCH
Return to Search
Reversal
A counter-offensive rolling maneuver designed to reverse roles on an attacker after he overshoots.
Rifle
AGM-65 launch.
RISC
Reduced Instruction Set Computing
RIT
Reduced Idle Thrust
RLG
Ring Laser Gyro
Rmax
Maximum weapons range.
RMFD
Right Multi Functional Display, as opposed to the LMFD on the left.
Rmin
Minimum weapons range.
RMLG
Right Main Landing Gear
RNDS
Rounds (gun)
RNG
Ranging
ROCC
Regional Operations Control Center.
Rockeye (Mk 20)
CBU with armor-piercing capability.
ROE
Rules of Engagement.
Roger
Indicates aircrew understands the radio transmission; does not indicate compliance or reaction.
Rolling Scissors
A series of rolling maneuvers in which each of two opposing aircraft is attempting to roll to his opponent's 6 o'clock. An energy depleting, maximum performance situation which frequently ends up in a slow speed, high AOA descent.
ROZ
Restricted Operating Zone (NATO). Temporary area restricted from fighter aircraft due to specialized operations.
rpm, RPM
Revolutions per Minute
RS
Return to Search
RSVR
Reservoir
RT
Retarded
RTB
Return To Base
RTWS
Radar Threat Warning System
Rumba
Ownship maneuvering and ranging (OMAR), F-15 angle on ranging (AOR), F-16.
Run/Running (Direction)
Directive/Informative. Perform a defensive maneuver to place the threat radar/missile on the tail.
RV
Receive Variable
RWD
Right Wing Down
RWR
Radar Warning Receiver