airspeed

American  

[air-speed] / ˈɛərˌspid /

Or air speed

noun

1. the forward speed of an aircraft relative to the air through which it moves.

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airspeed British  

/ ˈɛəˌspiːd /

noun

1. the speed of an aircraft relative to the air in which it moves Compare groundspeed

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Etymology

Origin of airspeed

First recorded in 1905–10; air ¹ + speed

Compare meaning

How does airspeed compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• airspeed vs. groundspeed

Example Sentences

But this affected the aerodynamic characteristics of the airplane, causing the nose to pitch up at high angle of attack at high airspeed.

From Salon

The National Transportation Safety Board said in a final report that the crew failed to manage the plane’s path, airspeed and nose direction after the mix-up between the captain and co-pilot.

From Seattle Times

Plaintiffs had accused Air France of insufficiently training its pilots on how to react when the airspeed sensors malfunctioned.

From New York Times

The crash led to changes in regulations for airspeed sensors and in how pilots are trained.

From Washington Times

When two airspeed indicators showed different readings, the pilots aborted the takeoff.

From Washington Post