airspeed

(DOD) The speed of an aircraft relative to its surrounding air mass. The unqualified term "airspeed" can mean any one of the following. a. calibrated airspeed--Indicated airspeed corrected for instrument installation error. b. equivalent airspeed--Calibrated airspeed corrected for compressibility error. c. indicated airspeed--The airspeed shown by an airspeed indicator. d. true airspeed--Equivalent airspeed corrected for error due to air density (altitude and temperature).