| R/C |
Radio control |
| R&D |
Research and development |
| R&M |
Reliability and maintainability |
| R/Nav |
re: RNAV |
| RAAWS |
Radar altimeter & altitude warning system |
| radar |
Radio detection and ranging |
| radius of action |
Maximum distance a (combat) aircraft can fly
with a normal load and return to base |
| |
without (inflight) refuelling |
| RAeS |
Royal Aeronautical Society (UK) |
| RAF |
Royal Air Force (UK) |
| RAFVR |
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (UK) |
| RAI |
Registro Aeronautico Italiano (Italian
civil aviation authority) |
| RAM |
Radar absorbent material; also:
random access memory |
| ramp weight |
MTOGW plus fuel allowances for taxi & run-up |
| RAP |
Rocket assisted projectile |
| RAS |
Rectified airspeed; IAS corrected for position
error |
| RAT |
Ram air turbine |
| RATO |
Rocket assisted take-off |
| RATOG |
Rocket assisted take-off gear |
| RAuxAF |
Royal Auxiliary Air Force |
| RAWS |
Radar altitude warning system;
also: radar attack and warning system |
| RCC |
Rescue co-ordination centre |
| RCS |
Radar cross section |
| RDT&E |
Research, development, test and evaluation |
| reaction-control jet |
Nozzles on extremities of aircraft which, using
engine bleed air, control the aircraft |
| redundancy |
Capability to continue function after failure of
primary system |
| RESA |
Runway end safety area |
| revenue passengers |
Passengers who pay 25% or more of normal
applicable fare |
| RF |
Radio frequency |
| RFID |
Radio frequency identification |
| RfP |
Request for proposal |
| RG |
Reconnaissance Group (USAF) |
| RHAW |
Radar homing and warning |
| RHWR |
Radar homing and warning receiver |
| RHWS |
Radar homing and warning system |
| RIC |
Reconnaissance interpretation centre |
| RIO |
Radar intercept officer |
| RMI |
Radio magnetic indicator;
also: remote magnetic indicator |
| RNAV |
Navigation system which uses 'ghost' beacons in
combination with airways beacons |
| |
to calculate position with reference to any
point on the surface |
| ROC or roc |
Rate of climb |
| root |
Innermost part of a wing where it attaches to
the fuselage |
| RPA |
Remotely piloted airship; also:
remotely piloted aircraft |
| rpg |
Rounds per gun |
| rpm |
Revolutions per minute |
| RPV |
Remotely piloted vehicle |
| RQF |
Rescue Flight (USAF) |
| RQS |
Rescue Squadron (USAF) |
| RQW |
Rescue Wing (USAF) |
| RRC |
Rapid Reaction Corps (NATO) |
| RRF |
Rapid Reaction Force (NATO) |
| RS |
Reconnaissance Squadron (USAF) |
| RSA |
Réseau du Sport de l'Air; French EAA |
| RSS |
Relaxed static stability |
| RTB |
Return to base |
| RTF |
Radiotelephone |
| ruddervator |
Moving flight control surface of V-tail;
combines functions of rudder and elevator |
| RV |
Re-entry vehicle |
| RVR |
Runway visual range |
| RW |
Reconnaissance Wing (USAF) |
| RWR |
Radar warning receiver |
| RWS |
Radar warning system |