drogue
9.9
A cone-shaped target towed behind a plane for shooting practice
- noun
- /droʊg/
- Specialized
:
blanco remolcado
- During missile testing, a drogue is often towed to ensure precise targeting.
Examples
-
The aircraft's drogue helped to provide a reliable target for the weapons system evaluations.
-
Apparently, among the enslaved workers assembling the aircraft, there was at least one who sought to make it the last time the drogue stopped an Arado jet.
Academic text (2006) -
The pilot deployed the drogue behind the aircraft to simulate a target for the gunnery practice.
Compounds
drogue chute
- Specialized
1
8.2
A small parachute that slows something moving very fast, for example a plane or race car
drogue parachute
- Specialized
6.9
A small parachute that slows something moving fast or helps open the main parachute
Surface Forms
Etymology
Drogue is helpful to remember by thinking of drag ('to pull behind'); in training a drogue is towed behind a plane as a movable target, so gunners aim at the drogue and not the aircraft.