volplane

American  

[vol-playn] / ˈvɒlˌpleɪn /

verb (used without object)

volplaned, volplaning

1. to glide toward the earth in an airplane, with no motor power or with the power shut off.

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noun

1. a glide in an airplane.

Other Word Forms

• volplanist
  noun

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Etymology

Origin of volplane

1905–10; < French vol plané glided flight, equivalent to vol flight (noun derivative of voler < Latin volāre to fly) + plané, past participle of planer to glide ( see plane ¹)

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

volplane volplaned volplaning

Meanwhile Sir Alan Cobham had been forced by a faulty spark plug to volplane to earth near Nuneaton.

From Time Magazine Archive

One was still maintaining a terrific altitude, and showed no signs of making a volplane.

From The Submarine Hunters A Story of the Naval Patrol Work in the Great War by Edward S. Hodgson

After a few vain attacks, they turned and we followed, each of us took one and soon forced them to volplane to earth.

From An Aviator's Field Book Being the field reports of Oswald Bölcke, from August 1, 1914 to October 28, 1916 by Oswald Boelcke

After I had been doing circuits for some time and had begun to have a little confidence in myself, I decided that it was necessary to do a volplane.

From The War in the Air; Vol. 1 The Part played in the Great War by the Royal Air Force by Sir Walter Alexander Raleigh

Thus summoned to ride the whirlwind the Colonial Secretary executed a graceful volplane.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 150, February 23, 1916 by Sir Owen Seaman

Before the sun was high on that morning," writes an American correspondent, "a British aviator volplaned down to his own lines with a wing damaged by shrapnel.

From The Childrens' Story of the War, Volume 3 (of 10) From the First Battle of Ypres to the End of the Year 1914 by James Edward Parrott

The plane volplaned down with steady swiftness, till its racing shadow lay large over the landscape for a few seconds before it rose again with beautiful ease and precision.

From The Last Shot by Frederick Palmer

Then he shut off the motor and volplaned to earth, to the no small astonishment of the surgeon.

From Tom Swift and His Sky Racer, or, the Quickest Flight on Record by Victor [pseud.] Appleton

"I have not volplaned much, but it will be all right I think."

From Tom Swift and His Air Glider, or Seeking the Platinum Treasure by Victor [pseud.] Appleton

So they volplaned slowly downward, every eye strained for a safe landing-place.

From Lost in the Air by Roy J. (Roy Judson) Snell

We have the devotees of St. Vitus' dance called Jazz . . . volplaning down the descending scale.

From Time Magazine Archive

It was Blake, flying high, volplaning to make contact and learn from the air what this stranger might mean.

From Astounding Stories of Super-Science, November, 1930 by Various

He should be able to tell by ear, when volplaning, whether or not he is maintaining sufficient speed to hold it in the air.

From Opportunities in Aviation by Arthur Sweetser

But, speaking of volplaning, I've had three lessons this week.

From The Hollow of Her Hand by George Barr McCutcheon

Black-faced, white-whiskered monkeys roused by the din, screamed cries of hate and alarm as they scurried in volplaning leaps from tree to tree.

From Caste by William Alexander Fraser

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