low-level nap?

[tara]

Hello teachers,

I was reading an article about some systems of an attack helicopter.

It says;
"The pilot night vision system comprises of the Binocular HMDS and a
piloting FLIR, thus enabling the pilot to fly low-level nap-of-the-earth missions in total darkness."

I don't understane what "low-level nap-of-the-earth" means.
Does it mean "a very short term sleep while flying"??
And when you connect words with hyphens,
does it become like one word?

Thank you,
Tara

[susiedqq]

Just Google it!

Nap-of-the-earth (abbreviated NOE) is very low-level type of flight course used to avoid detection and attack by an enemy when in a high-threat environment.[1]
Geographical features are used as cover, exploiting valleys and folds in the ground by flying in them rather than over them to avoid 'skylining' to an enemy and to keep below radar cover. Other terms such as 'ground-hugging', 'terrain masking', or 'flying under the radar' are also used

[tara]

Just Google it!

Thank you.
It's not so easy for me to search and find the right explanation for
a foreign word through the internet, but I'll try harder next time....

Tara

[susiedqq]

You knew one definition for the word "nap," but when it was combined with "of the earth" it became confusing.

"nap" also means close surface. A rug or fabric has a nap when you move your hand back and forth across it.

The content of the sentence told me that this was a special meaning for this word combination, a military or flying term. So I Goggled it, and the special application came up.

[tara]

The content of the sentence told me that this was a special meaning for this word combination, a military or flying term.

If I were a native-speaker or advanced level of English, I think I would be able to judge like that easily. It's not like I was too lazy to search through the internet. It's simply difficult for me.
But I'll try to search harder to solve a question by myself next time.

Thanks,
Tara

[vil]

Hi tara,

Nap-of-the-earth (NOE) is very low-level flight to avoid detection and attack by an enemy when in a high-threat environment.

The lowest NOE flying is by helicopters because they have lower speeds and more maneuverability than fixed-wing aircraft, particularly fast-jets. Helicopers can fly at "tree-top" level, even below the height of surrounding trees where there are clear areas, flying under wires (such as elecricity cables) rather than over them. Attack helicopters can "hide" behind trees or buildings, "popping up" just enough to use their (rotor mast-mounted) radar or other sensors and then exposing themselves a litle more in order to launch their weapons. Escape can then be made by further NOE flying.

Nap-of-the-earth: Information and Much More from Answers.com

There are a few expressions with very close meaning which even a child might learn quickly: flight at zero level, flight at deck level, hedge-hopping.

Regards

V.

[tara]

Hello vil,

Thank you for the quotation and indicating the Answers.com.
It looks like a useful site, too.

Best regards,
Tara