motorglider
Engine-assisted soaring aircraft
A motorglider is an aircraft that combines features of a glider and a powered airplane—it can soar on thermal currents like a sailplane but has an engine for takeoff, climbing, or extending range.
Some designs allow the engine to be retracted or shut down during unpowered flight: We launched the motorglider under power, then cut the engine and rode the thermals for hours.
Rotating blades creating thrust
- cockpitPilot's control compartment
- fuselageAircraft's central structure
- wingsLimbs for flight
- tailplaneRear aircraft pitch surface
ailerons · flaps · rudder · winglets · undercarriage · canopy · engine · airspeed
Rising effortlessly upward
- thermalsWarm air columns
- updraftUpward air movement
- liftMechanism for vertical transport
- altitudeMeasured height above reference
climb · descent · cruise · takeoff · landing · sink · airspeed · pattern
Recreational leisure activity
- leisureFree time for relaxation
- adventureRisky exciting undertaking
- freedomAbsence of constraint
- clubOrganization with membership
airfield · hangar · flying · cross-country · touring · scenic · weekend · sport
Consumes minimal energy traveling
- aerodynamicMinimizing drag through shape
- streamlinedMade smooth and efficient
- lightweightLacking mass or importance
- economicalUsing resources sparingly
range · endurance · unpowered · feathering
U.S. flight safety agency
- airspaceRegulated overhead flight zone
- VFRAviation using visual references
- registrationFormal recording of participation
- certificationAttestation of qualification
airworthiness · SEP · logbook · insurance
propeller
Rotating blades creating thrust
tailplane · ailerons · flaps · rudder · winglets · undercarriage · canopy · engine · airspeed · altimeter
soaring
Rising effortlessly upward
altitude · climb · descent · cruise · takeoff · landing · sink · airspeed · pattern · circuit
hobby
Recreational leisure activity
club · airfield · hangar · flying · cross-country · touring · scenic · weekend · sport · enthusiast
fuel-efficient
Consumes minimal energy traveling
- aerodynamicMinimizing drag through shape
- streamlinedMade smooth and efficient
- lightweightLacking mass or importance
economical · range · endurance · unpowered · feathering
FAA
U.S. flight safety agency
- airspaceRegulated overhead flight zone
- VFRAviation using visual references
- registrationFormal recording of participation
certification · airworthiness · SEP · logbook · insurance
motorglidersailplane
Engineless soaring aircraft
jet aircraft · helicopter · fighter jet · jet · turbojet
motorgliderjumbo jet
Large commercial aircraft
heavy bomber · Boeing 747 · cargo plane · Airbus A380 · military transport
motor, glider, motors, motored, motoring, motorist, motorize, motorized, motorizing