convertiplane
Helicopter-airplane hybrid vehicle
A convertiplane is an aircraft that can take off and land vertically like a helicopter but fly horizontally like a conventional airplane.
The category includes tiltrotor aircraft like the V-22 Osprey, where rotating engine nacelles allow transition between flight modes.
The term is more technical than common: The military invested heavily in convertiplane development.
Aircraft with pivoting engines
- OspreyHybrid helicopter-airplane for combat
- VTOLPerpendicular takeoff ability
- rotorcraftAircraft lifted by blades
- autogyroRotorcraft with unpowered rotor
fuselage · airframe · cockpit · propeller · turboshaft · wing · rotor · nacelle
Remain suspended midair
- takeoffDeparture or parody
- landingDescent's final moment
- transitionChange from one state
- cruiseLeisurely ocean voyage
airspeed · altitude · vertical · horizontal · maneuver · navigation · airspace · pilot
Forceful forward motion
- engineMachine producing motion
- turboshaftGas turbine driving shaft
- propellerRotating blades creating thrust
- rotorSpinning mechanical assembly
tilt · swivel · vectoring · horsepower · torque · gearbox · drivetrain · powerplant
Testing new methods
- prototypeFirst functional specimen
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
- BellNotable family name
- advancementForward movement or promotion
breakthrough · patent · cutting-edge · next-generation · military · civilian · versatility · capability
tiltrotor
Aircraft with pivoting engines
- OspreyHybrid helicopter-airplane for combat
- VTOLPerpendicular takeoff ability
- rotorcraftAircraft lifted by blades
autogyro · fuselage · airframe · cockpit · propeller · turboshaft · wing · rotor · nacelle · avionics
hover
Remain suspended midair
- takeoffDeparture or parody
- landingDescent's final moment
- transitionChange from one state
cruise · airspeed · altitude · vertical · horizontal · maneuver · navigation · airspace · pilot · turbulence
thrust
Forceful forward motion
- engineMachine producing motion
- turboshaftGas turbine driving shaft
- propellerRotating blades creating thrust
rotor · tilt · swivel · vectoring · horsepower · torque · gearbox · drivetrain · powerplant · combustion
experimental
Testing new methods
- prototypeFirst functional specimen
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
- BellNotable family name
advancement · breakthrough · patent · cutting-edge · next-generation · military · civilian · versatility · capability · development
convertiplanejet
Forced fluid stream
propeller plane · helicopter · rotorcraft · airplane · airliner
convert, airplane, conversion, converted, convertible, converts, converting, converter, reconvert