convertiplane

or con·vert·a·plane, con·vert·o·plane

[ kuhn-vur-tuh-pleyn ]

noun

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

convertiplane

/ kənˈvɜːtəˌpleɪn /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of convertiplane¹

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