qv = also in Glossary

S

    • S Shed

      WW2 FAA hangar type [qv Mainhill]

    • SAC

      Strategic Air Command (USAF)

    • Sailplane

      Glider but one designed for more prolonged and soaring flight

    • SAM

      Surface-to-Air Missile

    • SAR

      Search and Rescue (more modern term for ASR [qv])

    • Satellite

      Less well-equipped airfield, notably unlike a parent airfield in not being self-accounting [qv]

    • SBA

      Standard Beam Approach (aircraft landing aid)

    • Scarecrow

      Coastal patrol of 1918 flown against U-boats by RAF/RNAS landplanes, especially Airco DH6s

    • Scatter Scheme

      Early WW2 RAF tactic of sending bomber units to more inland airfields for brief periods and lessen chances of enemy attacks

    • Scramble

      Rapid takeoff from a military airfield

    • Seagull Trench

      WW2 defence position

    • Seaplane

      Aircraft equipped with one or more floats to operate from water

    • Seco Hut

      WW2 airfield support building

    • Sector

      Part of overall area for defensive military operations

    • Self-accounting

      Relating to airfield dealing with its own administration

    • SFTS

      Service Flying Training School

    • Shadow factory

      Manufacturing facility in a more dispersed area to both reduce risk from enemy air attack and increase production

    • Ship name

      FAA term for a parent airfield

    • SHQ

      Station Headquarters

    • Side-opening Aeroplane Shed

      Pre-WW1/WW1 hangar type

    • Signals Command

      RAF organisation (1958-1968)

    • Signals square

      Aerial navigation aid close to control tower, containing various visual symbols

    • SLG

      Satellite Landing Ground (WW2 airfield for dispersed aircraft storage)

    • SMT

      Square Mesh Track [qv]

    • SOC

      Struck Off Charge (relating to condition of aircraft)

    • Sodium lighting

      Type of airfield approach lighting

    • SOE

      Special Operations Executive (WW2 espionage organisation)

    • Sommerfeld Track

      Type of metal runway

    • Sortie

      Operational flight by military aircraft

    • SoTT

      School of Technical Training

    • Spectacle (hardstanding)

      Parking area for aircraft, shaped as such

    • Spider Web

      WW1 RAF/RFC anti-submarine patrol

    • Sqn

      Squadron [qv]

    • Squadron

      Military unit, between a Wing and Flight

    • Square Mesh Track (SMT)

      Type of metal runway

    • SRW

      Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (USAF)

    • SS

      Submarine Scout [qv]

    • SSQ

      Station Sick Quarters

    • Standby Set House

      Building to provide power for airfield in the event of any emergency or malfunction

    • Stanton Shelter

      WW2 air raid protective building

    • Station

      Alternative term for a military airfield

    • Station Flight

      Unit for airfield-related communications duties

    • STOL

      Short Take-Off and Landing

    • Stop butt

      Alternative term for firing butt [qv]

    • Storage Sub-Site

      More substantial airfield used mid-to-late 1940s for aircraft storage; replaced to a limited degree SLGs [qv}

    • Strike Command

      RAF organisation (1968-2007)

    • Strip

      [colloquial] Airstrip

    • SU

      Signals Unit

    • Submarine Scout (SS)

      Type of WW1 airship

    • Super Robin(s)

      WW2 hangar type

    • Support Command

      RAF organisation (1973-1994)

© 2024 ABCT All rights reserved.
Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust is registered in England and Wales. Registered Office: Suite 1, 3rd Floor, 11-12 St. James Square, London, SW1Y 4LB
Registered Company No. 08940364. Registered Charity No (England and Wales): 1156877. Registered Charity No (Scotland): SC041123