Plain English Meaning
How the aircraft is currently set up on the outside — gear up or down, flaps in or out, and so on. Each setup changes how the aircraft flies.
Full Definition
The arrangement of an aircraft's external shape and movable surfaces at a given moment, including the position of flaps, landing gear, slats, spoilers, speed brakes, and any external stores. Each combination produces different lift, drag, and performance characteristics.
Context Anchor
Seen in performance discussions and charts where the airplane’s setup must match the conditions used to calculate takeoff, , , or .