Tail cone

nounStandard termAviation

The aerodynamic fairing at the extreme rear of an aircraft fuselage or jet engine.

A tail cone is the tapered rear section of an aircraft fuselage or the exhaust section of a gas turbine engine. On a fuselage, it reduces aerodynamic drag by smoothly bringing the airflow back together. On an engine, it helps manage the expansion and flow of hot exhaust gases to maximize thrust efficiency.

Heard on the job

Inspect the APU exhaust port on the tail cone for soot buildup.