A fixed-wing aircraft is a heavier-than-air craft whose lift is generated not by wing motion relative to the aircraft, but by forward motion through the air. The term is used to distinguish from rotary-wing aircraft or ornithopters, where the movement of the wing surfaces relative to the aircraft generates lift. In the US and Canada, the term airplane is used, though around the rest of the English speaking world, including Ireland and Commonwealth nations the spelling aeroplane is more common. These terms refer to any fixed wing aircraft powered by propellers or jet engines. The word derives from the Greek αέρας (aéras-) ("air") and -plane. The spelling "aeroplane" is the older of the two, dating back to the mid-late 19th century. Some fixed-wing aircraft may be remotely or robot controlled.

Overview

Fixed-wing aircraft range from small training and recreational aircraft to wide-body aircraft and military cargo aircraft. The word also embraces aircraft with folding or removable wings that are intended to fold when on the ground. This is usually to ease storage or facilitate transport on, for example, a vehicle trailer or the powered lift connecting the hangar deck of an aircraft carrier to its flight deck. It also embraces aircraft with "variable-sweep wings", such as the General Dynamics F-111, Grumman F-14 Tomcat and the Panavia Tornado, which can vary the sweep angle of their wings during flight. There are also rare examples of aircraft which can vary the angle of incidence of their wings in flight, such the F-8 Crusader, which are also considered to be "fixed-wing".

The two necessities for fixed-wing aircraft are air flow over the wings for lifting of the aircraft, and an area for landing. The majority of aircraft, however, also need an airport with the infrastructure to receive maintenance, restocking, refueling and for the loading and unloading of crew, cargo and passengers. Some aircraft are capable of take off and landing on ice, aircraft carriers, snow, or calm water.

The aircraft is the second fastest method of transport, after the rocket. Commercial jet aircraft can reach up to 1000 km/h. Single-engined, piston-driven aircraft are capable of reaching up to 425 km/h. Supersonic aircraft (military, research and a few private aircraft) can reach speeds faster than sound. The speed record for a plane powered by an air-breathing engine is held by the experimental NASA X-43, which reached nearly ten times the speed of sound.

The biggest aircraft built is the Antonov An-225, while the fastest still in production is the Mikoyan MiG-31. The biggest supersonic jet ever produced is the Tupolev Tu-160.

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