flight recorder

American  

noun

1. an electronic device aboard an aircraft that automatically records some aspects of the aircraft's performance in flight.

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flight recorder British  

noun

1. Also called: black box.  an electronic device fitted to an aircraft for storing information concerning its performance in flight. It is often used to determine the cause of a crash

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Etymology

Origin of flight recorder

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

flight recorder

As part of the investigation into the incident, the agency confirmed that it’s gathering radar, weather and flight recorder data.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2025

According to data from the flight recorder, both of the plane's fuel control switches moved from the run to the cut-off position in the space of a second, shortly after take-off.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2025

Investigators took the flight recorder into custody along with fuel samples and needed documentation, according to RIA Novosti.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 18, 2022

On Friday, several Chinese media outlets mistakenly reported that searchers had found the second flight recorder.

From New York Times ● Mar. 27, 2022

Here is the flight recorder transcript of the final thirty minutes of KAL flight 801: It begins with the captain complaining of exhaustion.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell