tail-skid

tail-skid

The pilot checks the tail-skid after landing.

Definition

Noun: - Aircraft landing support: A "tail-skid" is a small, often fixed support or runner located at the rear of an aircraft, designed to protect the tail section from contact with the ground during takeoff, landing, or taxiing, especially on aircraft that lack a tailwheel.

Usage Examples
  • (A rear support used for ground contact on older aircraft.)
  • (The protective part at the back of the plane made contact with the ground.)
Advanced Usage

  • "to drag the tail-skid": to allow the tail of an aircraft to touch the ground during landing, often as a technique for short-field landings.

    • The pilot expertly dragged the tail-skid to slow the plane down on the grass strip. (The pilot intentionally let the rear support touch the ground.)

  • "tail-skid shoe": a replaceable metal or hard rubber component at the bottom of the tail-skid that wears out from contact with the ground.

    • The mechanic replaced the worn tail-skid shoe before the next flight. (The part that actually contacts the ground was changed.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Tail-skid (n): a variant spelling with a hyphen; the standard form.
  • Skid (n): a device used to prevent sliding or to support something off the ground.
    • The helicopter landed on a skid. (A runner-like support.)
  • Tail (n): the rear part of an aircraft.
    • The tail of the plane houses the horizontal stabilizer. (The back section.)
Synonyms
  • Tail support: a general term for any structure that holds up the rear of an aircraft.
  • Rear skid: a skid located at the back of a vehicle or aircraft.
Related Idioms
  • "on the tail-skid": (informal) describing an aircraft that is resting on its tail support, often due to improper loading or parking.
    • The heavy cargo caused the plane to sit on the tail-skid. (The aircraft's tail was low enough to touch the ground support.)
Additional Notes
  • The term "tail-skid" is most commonly used in aviation, particularly for older or light aircraft designs that do not have a retractable tailwheel. In modern aircraft, it is often replaced by a tailwheel or a tail bumper.