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

See Examples For:

convertiplane

Deputy to the Under Secretary of the Army Frank H. Higgins hailed Bell's convertiplane, the XV-3,* as a possible answer to the Army's air requirements.

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

Last week McDonnell Aircraft Corp. showed its XV1 convertiplane, a joint Army-Air Force project designed to sidestep many of the difficulties.

From Time Magazine Archive

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