A surface-mount component package characterized by a flat rectangular body and straight, ribbon-like metallic leads extending horizontally from two or four sides. These leads sit flat against the board rather than bending down like gull-wing pins. It is an older military and aerospace package designed to handle high mechanical stress.
Heard on the job
The legacy flight controller uses ceramic flatpacks that have to be hand-soldered to the pads.
Insider tip
Flatpacks are rarely seen in commercial electronics, having been entirely replaced by gull-wing packages like SOIC and QFP.