gliders
Planes without motors
Gliders are aircraft designed to fly without an engine, riding air currents and thermals to stay aloft: We watched the gliders circle above the ridge.
The term extends to other things that glide—a type of porch swing that moves smoothly on a frame, or sugar gliders, small marsupials that glide between trees using membranes stretched between their limbs.
Warm air columns
- updraftUpward air movement
- liftMechanism for vertical transport
- altitudeMeasured height above reference
- climbAscend using effort
cross-country · cloudbase · sink · float · drift · effortless · silent · graceful
Engineless soaring aircraft
- fuselageAircraft's central structure
- cockpitPilot's control compartment
- aileronsWing-mounted roll controls
- rudderPivoting stern blade
tailplane · canopy · spoilers · airbrakes · towplane · variometer · altimeter · monoplane
Extremely light timber
- foamBubble-filled substance
- rubber-bandLooped elastic strip
- catapultSiege engine for launching
- launchSet into motion
nosedive · wingspan · trim · weighted · throwing · indoor · outdoor · competitions
thermals
Warm air columns
- updraftUpward air movement
- liftMechanism for vertical transport
- altitudeMeasured height above reference
climb · cross-country · cloudbase · sink · float · drift · effortless · silent · graceful · buoyancy
sailplane
Engineless soaring aircraft
- fuselageAircraft's central structure
- cockpitPilot's control compartment
- aileronsWing-mounted roll controls
rudder · tailplane · canopy · spoilers · airbrakes · towplane · variometer · altimeter · monoplane · two-seater
balsa
Extremely light timber
- foamBubble-filled substance
- rubber-bandLooped elastic strip
- catapultSiege engine for launching
launch · nosedive · wingspan · trim · weighted · throwing · indoor · outdoor · competitions · model
rocker
Chair on curved rails
- porchCovered entryway structure
- swingSuspended recreational seat
- rocking-chairSeat on curved runners
nursery · cushion · armrest · wooden · wicker · soothing · motion · seat · outdoor · smooth
membrane
Thin tissue sheet
- aviation activitiespaper airplanes, kites, helicopters, drones, air shows
- soarerseagles, hawks, falcons, vultures, condors
- Airborne Forcesparatrooper, airborne, parachute drop, drop zone, static line
- model aircraftmodel airplane, model kits, RC helicopter, quadcopter, model aircraft
- flightflying, fly, flight, aviation, aircraft
- aerospaceairplane, helicopter, rocket, rockets, spacecraft
glidersjets
Pressurized fluid streams
propeller planes · fighter jets · helicopters · rocket planes · airliners
glidersrockets
Propulsion-driven flying vehicles
jet fighters · helicopters · ballistic missiles · spacecraft
glidersjet engines
Aircraft thrust generators
turbojets · supersonic jets · military aircraft · space shuttles · stealth bombers
- hang gliderPiloted fabric wing
- hang glideUnpowered personal flight
- sugar gliderMembrane-winged marsupial from Oceania
- glide pathAircraft's landing descent route
- foam gliderBuoyant toy aircraft
- balsa gliderToy aircraft of soft wood