Vaughn Simon schrieb:

But Bob... you have only made half of your case. As you say, the dictionary
definition of "flair" includes nothing about landing an airplane, but neither
does the definition for "flare".

Depends on the dictionary. From the OED (1993):


flare v. [Of unknown etymology.]

d. intr. To make the glide path of an aircraft about to land gradually
less steep until it is parallel to the ground; to raise the nose of an
aircraft when doing this; also trans., to cause (an aircraft) to descend
in this way. Also with out.


flare-out n.

2. Aeronaut. A lessening of the steepness of the glide path of an
aircraft about to land.


(Both with references.)

Stefan