volplane

American  

[vol-pleyn] / 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

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)

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

They were then at an altitude of a mile, and inability to start the motor made it necessary for them to volplane to the earth.

From The Boy Volunteers with the French Airman by Ward, Kenneth

He had to volplane down this time, not as a quick way of descending, but as the only means of preventing a disastrous fall.

From The Boy Scouts on the Trail by Durston, George

Turning again, he concluded to pass between two of the pinnacles, and immediately volplane down on the other side.

From The Boy Scouts on the Yukon by Mencl, Rudolf

At any rate, his engine was going perfectly, so he was not required to attempt a difficult volplane with a dead engine.

From Battling the Clouds or, For a Comrade's Honor by Cobb, Frank

"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 Appleton, Victor [pseud.]

Stern volplaned again; and as the machine slid down toward earth, came into a calmer and more peaceful stratum.

From Darkness and Dawn by England, George Allan

A queer place to gather news of international importance, thought Johnny, as he volplaned down toward the spot.

From The Thunder Bird by Bower, B. M.

Others in long slants volplaned toward the hidden sea, miles below the cloud-plain.

From The Flying Legion by England, George Allan

Then, climbing to a safe altitude he again volplaned in the hope of being guided by the sound of the bombardment.

From Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S. A story of the Great War by Westerman, Percy F. (Percy Francis)

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

From Time Magazine Archive

Suddenly his engine stopped, as though with a sigh of regret that it could no longer serve him, and Tom knew that volplaning alone would save him now.

From Air Service Boys in the Big Battle Or, Silencing the Big Guns by Beach, Charles Amory

The volplaning machine was not at all striking to the eye.

From Skyrider by Fischer, Anton Otto

But, as he was volplaning, this cut down the speed, and from a height of ten feet above a field the machine dropped to the ground with a flat plop.

From The Trail of the Hawk A Comedy of the Seriousness of Life by Lewis, Sinclair

As for wheeling, volplaning, spiraling or doing anything that occasioned quick action on his part with rudder or planes, he was nearly helpless.

From Our Pilots in the Air by Brown, William Perry