convertiplane

American  

[kuhn-vur-tuh-pleyn] / kənˈvɜr təˌpleɪn /

Or convertaplane,

noun

1. an airplane capable of both vertical flight like a helicopter and fast, forward speed like a conventional airplane.

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convertiplane British  

/ kənˈvɜːtəˌpleɪn /

noun

1. an aircraft that can land and take off vertically by temporarily directing its propulsive thrust downwards

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Etymology

Origin of convertiplane

First recorded in 1945–50; convert ¹ + -i- + plane ¹

Example Sentences

The convertiplane takes off with the rotor shafts vertical, and the rotors lift it into the air helicopter-fashion.

From Time Magazine Archive

Then air and fuel are cut off, and the rotor idles freely while a pusher propeller flies the convertiplane like an ordinary airplane.

From Time Magazine Archive

A convertiplane on the general plan of the XV3 mav prove to have the speed and economy of the fixed-wing airplane without sacrificing the special advantages of the rotary wing helicopter.

From Time Magazine Archive

Last week, at Fort Worth, Bell Aircraft Corp. showed a prototype convertiplane.

From Time Magazine Archive

Both military and civilian aircraft users have long demanded a helicopter-airplane hybrid: a "convertiplane" that can take off vertically like a helicopter and fly as fast and as economically as an airplane.

From Time Magazine Archive