The human activity that surrounds aircraft is called aviation. The science of aviation includes, designing and building aircraft, is called aeronautics. Crewed aircraft are flown by an onboard pilot, whereas …

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 against its wings. Learn more …

Learn about aircraft the U.S. Air Force uses to maintain air superiority around the world. Read about the capabilities, development, and operational history of the aircraft used by the Air Force across a wide …

Feb 20, 2023 · Aircraft are machines that have been designed for the purpose of flying through the air. An aircraft may also be referred to as an airplane, an airliner, or just a plane. It can be powered or …

Sep 16, 2025 · This NASA Aircraft page will showcase NASA’s aircraft operations that enable the Agency’s myriad missions, from preparing astronauts to go to space, to studying Earth from the air, …

An aircraft is any vehicle that flies, but an airplane is a specific type of aircraft with wings that uses aerodynamic forces for flight. It is also helpful to recognize that the plural of aircraft is aircraft, not …

For any airplane to fly, you must lift the weight of the airplane itself, the fuel, the passengers, and the cargo. The wings generate most of the lift to hold the plane in the air. To generate lift, the airplane …

Airplanes come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and wing configurations. The broad spectrum of uses for airplanes includes recreation, transportation of goods and people, military, and research.

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 heavier than air.

Jan 8, 2026 · 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 aircraft with these types …