flying machine

American  

noun

1. a vehicle that sustains itself in and propels itself through the air; an airplane, helicopter, glider, or the like.

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Etymology

Origin of flying machine

First recorded in 1730–40

Example Sentences

Yet in some ways, Pivotal’s technology is even more audacious, in that it puts a human pilot—potentially a squirmy, Earth-hugging rookie like me—squarely into the control loop of a flying machine.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 17, 2025

Last year, that slot was occupied by the lean, mean flying machine “Plane,” starring Gerard Butler.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 11, 2024

Even Orville and Wilbur Wright flipped a coin to see who got the lone seat on their flying machine.

From Washington Times • Oct. 19, 2023

The flying machine was on hydraulics with a CGI screen running so we had movement without the danger.

From Salon • May 10, 2023

His enemies, mocking him, put it about that he was working on a flying machine, and indeed he admitted that the thought had crossed his mind.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton