
Airplane - Jet, Propeller, Glider | Britannica
Oct 13, 2025 · Airplane - Jet, Propeller, Glider: There are a number of ways to identify aircraft by type. The primary distinction is between those that are lighter than air and those that are …
Airplane | Definition, Types, Mechanics, & Facts | Britannica
Oct 13, 2025 · An airplane is any of a class of fixed-wing aircraft that is heavier than air, propelled by a screw propeller or a high-velocity jet, and supported by the dynamic reaction of the air …
airplane - Kids | Britannica Kids | Homework Help
Types of Airplanes Airplanes can be grouped into many different categories. One way of classifying them is by the number of wings they have. Many early airplanes were biplanes, …
Airplane - Civil Aviation, Design, Flight | Britannica
Oct 13, 2025 · Airplane - Civil Aviation, Design, Flight: All nonmilitary planes are civil aircraft. These include private and business planes and commercial airliners. Private aircraft are …
Military aircraft | Types, History, & Development | Britannica
Sep 25, 2025 · Generally speaking, all military aircraft fall into one of the following categories: fighters, bombers, ground-support aircraft, transport and cargo planes, helicopters, and …
Definition, Types, Examples, List, & Facts - Britannica
Oct 10, 2025 · An inclined plane consists of a sloping surface; it is used for raising heavy bodies. The plane offers a mechanical advantage in that the force required to move an object up the …
History of flight | Airplanes, Dates, & Facts | Britannica
Sep 12, 2025 · This article tells the story of the invention of the airplane and the development of civil aviation from piston-engine airplanes to jets. For a history of military aviation, see military …
Airplane - Materials, Construction, Design | Britannica
Oct 13, 2025 · Though initially used for aerial reconnaissance, aircraft were soon fitted with machine guns to shoot at other aircraft and with bombs to drop on ground targets; military …
airplane - Students | Britannica Kids | Homework Help
Airplanes may be classified by the number, location, and shape of the wings or by the type, number, and position of the engines. Another designation is by landing gear—fixed or retractable.
Seaplane | Types, Safety & Benefits | Britannica
Seaplane, any of a class of aircraft that can land, float, and take off on water. Seaplanes with boatlike hulls are also known as flying boats, those with separate pontoons or floats as …