swing-wing

American  

[swing-wing] / ˈswɪŋˌwɪŋ /

adjective

1. (of an airplane) having wings whose horizontal angle to the fuselage centerline can be adjusted fore and aft to optimize aerodynamic performance at widely differing speeds.

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swing-wing British  

adjective

1. of or relating to a variable-geometry aircraft

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noun

1. 1. such an aircraft

   2. either wing of such an aircraft

Etymology

Origin of swing-wing

First recorded in 1965–70

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

swing-wing

The U.S. would phase out all of its B-52s and B-58s while building enough FB-111s, the strategic fighter-bomber version of the swing-wing F-111, to match the Soviet TU-95s in numbers.

From Time Magazine Archive

The first swing-wing supersonic strategic bomber ever produced, Backfire is believed to have been designed by Andrei N. Tupolev, 82, who also developed the Soviet Union's TU-144 supersonic transport.

From Time Magazine Archive

The swing-wing principle of General Dynamics' F-111 fighter-bomber and the Boeing SST design were devised by a British aircraft engineer.

From Time Magazine Archive

Such was the military-industrial reaction last week to Jimmy Carter's stunning and almost wholly unexpected decision to kill the Air Force's request for 244 swing-wing B-1 bombers.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Russians, who have been experimenting with a swing-wing plane of their own, would learn a great deal if they could retrieve parts of the F-111.

From Time Magazine Archive

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