flying wing

American  

noun

Aeronautics.

1. an airplane whose wings form almost all the airframe, with the fuselage almost or entirely within the wing structure.

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flying wing British  

noun

1. an aircraft consisting mainly of one large wing and no fuselage or tailplane

2. (in Canadian football) the twelfth player, who has a variable position behind the scrimmage line

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Etymology

Origin of flying wing

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Gesner was also related to John K. Northrop, inventor of the flying wing airplane and founder of the Northrop corporation.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 14, 2022

"What brought us back at the end to the flying wing design is its structural and aerodynamic efficiency," Vinson said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2018

James said the suppliers named Monday would work on the airframe and mission systems of the new flying wing stealth bomber, but gave no details.

From Reuters • Mar. 7, 2016

Chris Ashton's flying wing exploits may not have exactly overshadowed the manner of England's victory over Italy, but his defiance of Martin Johnson's order to touch the ball down safely before celebrating excited the media.

From The Guardian • Feb. 17, 2011

And there, Galya said, “I looked behind and saw that all were flying wing tip to wing tip. So Klava said: ‘Just you look at them; they’re flying like in an air show.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein