Aircraft

An aircraft is a flying machine. 

The word aircraft originally meant airships and balloons. It comes from the words air and craft,  a term from boating as were many early aviation words.

There are many different kinds of aircraft.

Some aircraft keep in the sky by moving air over their wings. Examples are aeroplanes, helicopters, and gliders. Some aircraft keep in the sky by floating.  Examples are balloons and airships.

Most aircraft use engine power. Examples are aeroplanes, helicopter, and airships. Gliders and balloons use no power.  A few aircraft use muscle power. A parachute, whilst flying, is also considered an aircraft.

Big aeroplanes for transporting people are called airliners. Airliners are the quickest way to travel.  Airliners can fly over mountains and bad weather.  Airliners have complex technology to make them fly quickly, safely and for less money. 

A few fighter aircraft can fly at 3,200 km/h (2,000 mph). 

The person who drives an aircraft is called the aviator or pilot.

 Largest aircraft 
These are the largest aircrafts. They are:
The largest aircraft by dimensions and volume is the British Airlander 10.
The largest aircraft by weight and largest regularly used fixed-wing aircraft is the Antonov An-225 Mriya.
The largest military aircraft and the second largest airplane is the Antonov An-124 Ruslan.

 Related pages 
Aerodynamics
Evacuation slide
Flight recorder

References


Category:Aerospace engineering