Expert: Paul Soderman - 9/4/2005

Question
Can you please explain the following words and phrases, taken from the book "BORN TO FLY,by Michael French to me:

What does "PODS" mean?
What does "THEY DARTED IN AND OUT AT US" mean? Why it is used "IN AND OUT"? I would be grateful to you if you would explain the words and phrases above in details. Excuse me,but i'm Italian and i'm striving to interpret English language in the proper way.

I have taken the words and phrases above in the text below:

"I WAS MISSION COMMANDER ON OUR EP-3E ARIES II, A RELATIVELY SLOW-MOVING AIRCRAFT THAT BRISTLED WITH PODS AND SENSORS AND WAS POWERED BY FOUR TURBOPROP ENGINES. ABOUT SIX HOURS AFTER TAKEOFF,WHEN WE WERE READY FOR THE LAST LEG OF OUR MISSION BEFORE RETURNING TO KADENA,MY CREW AND I WERE SUDDENLY INTERCEPTED BY A PAIR OF CHINESE FIGHTER PILOTS. IN THEIR SLEEK,FAST GRAY JETS,THEY DARTED IN AND OUT AT US WITHOUT CONCERN FOR ANYONE'S SAFETY."

Thank you
Giuliano  

Answer
Hi Giuliano

Good questions.  I am trying to improve my French and sympathize without your quest for perfection in a foreign language.

For aircraft, a pod is another word for nacelle.  For example, a fuselage or wing might have a small rounded protuberance that might contain a camera or gun.    In biology, a plant pod is a round body that contains seeds.

"Darted in and out at us"  means the Chinese planes flew in towards us very quickly and then out away from us very quickly.  A soccer player might dart in and out when attacking defenders around the goal.  That is, he might rush in toward the defenders suddenly and then jump away from them just as quickly.

Hope that helps.  Good luck.

Paul