What does sailplane mean?
A sailplane is a light, engine-less aircraft designed to glide and soar through rising air. Its broad wings generate most of its lift, while forward motion is sustained by gravity, thermals, ridge winds, or other upward-moving air currents. The term is more specific than the informal word glider, which can refer to various small aircraft, including some with engines. Sailplanes are used for recreation, competition, flight training, and scientific research, and some skilled pilots can remain aloft for many hours. As a verb, sailplane means to fly in a sailplane. The word combines sail with plane, in the sense of an aircraft that glides through the air.
A light, engine-less aircraft with long wings, designed to glide and soar on rising air currents.
"The sailplane landed gently in the harvested field."
More specific than glider, which may denote other types of small, usually single-seat aircraft.
To travel or fly in a sailplane.
"They sailplane over the coastal dunes whenever the sea breeze is strong."
This verb is relatively uncommon outside aviation and recreational-flying contexts.
The regular plural is used when referring to multiple sailplanes or types of sailplane.
"Several sailplanes are stored in the clubhouse hangar."
A sailplane has no engine: its long wings turn forward motion into lift, allowing it to soar for hours on invisible currents of rising air.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sailplane come from?
Sailplane was formed in the early twentieth century by combining sail with plane, a shortened form of aeroplane. The earlier element refers to the craft's method of staying aloft without an engine, while plane identifies it as a flying machine. The word belongs to a series of aircraft compounds ending in -plane, including seaplane and hydroplane, although these forms developed for quite different purposes.
Related word forms
How sailplane is actually used
In aviation, sailplane is more specific than the informal term glider and normally refers to an unpowered aircraft intended for soaring. The verb is comparatively uncommon in everyday use.
Easily confused with sailplane
A sailplane is a specifically designed, usually engine-less aircraft optimized for soaring, whereas a glider may also refer more broadly to a small, often powered aircraft used for training or recreation.