sailplane

American  

[seyl-pleyn] / ˈseɪlˌpleɪn /

noun

1. a very light glider that can be lifted by an upward current of air.

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verb (used without object)

sailplaned, sailplaning

1. to soar in a sailplane.

sailplane British  

/ ˈseɪlˌpleɪn /

noun

1. a high-performance glider

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Other Word Forms

• sailplaner noun

Etymology

Origin of sailplane

First recorded in 1920–25; sail + plane ¹

Example Sentences

Unless they make extraordinary efforts — for instance, going out to fly aerobatics, fly sailplanes or wander among the airstrips of backcountry Idaho — they may never develop true airmanship no matter the length of their careers.

From New York Times

The gliderport was popular for sailplanes in the 1920s, radio-controlled model airplanes in the 1960s and hang gliders in the 1970s, before paragliding came into vogue in the 1980s.

From Los Angeles Times

The sailplanes are all identical, made lightweight from foam, with radio controls and 6½-foot wing spans.

From Seattle Times

The Perlan 2 glider involved is described as a "pressurised sailplane", which can handle air density - the mass of air divided by its volume - of less than 2% its sea level reading.

From BBC

Using a fiberglass glider with a 16-foot wingspan, the team hoped to set a record for autonomous flight time by a sailplane — more than five hours aloft.

From New York Times