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pilotless aircraft

American  

noun

  1. an aircraft equipped for operation by radio or by robot control, without a human pilot aboard; drone.


Etymology

Origin of pilotless aircraft

First recorded in 1940–45; pilot + -less

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Unfortunately, it seems these are the last days of envelope-pushing men and women in naval aviation; pilotless aircraft are more reliable and they’re next.

From Washington Times May 12, 2022

The planes were showcasing an experimental technology introduced in World War II. During the war, pilotless aircraft served as missiles, delivering a punch to hardened, well-defended targets.

From Washington Post Sep. 18, 2021

Boeing bolstered its portfolio of unconventional, pilotless aircraft last year by buying Aurora Flight Sciences, whose projects include a new flying taxi it is developing with Uber Technologies.

From Seattle Times Mar. 4, 2018

Packages would supposedly be dropped on to people's lawns by small pilotless aircraft.

From BBC Dec. 6, 2013

The public congressional hearing on "drone-kill policy" was noteworthy: government officials refrained for years from even uttering the word "drone" when talking about the use of armed, pilotless aircraft because such operations were classified.

From Reuters Feb. 27, 2013

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