Editing Fixed-wing aircraft (section)

==Types==
{{Refimprove-section|date=March 2024}}

===Airplane/aeroplane===
{{Main|Airplane}}
[[File:Flightline at Kabul International Airport.jpeg|thumb|Aircraft parked on the ground in Afghanistan]]
An airplane (aeroplane or plane) is a powered fixed-wing aircraft propelled by [[thrust]] from a [[jet engine]] or [[Propeller (aircraft)|propeller]]. Planes come in many sizes, shapes, and wing configurations. Uses include [[recreation]], transportation of goods and people, military, and research.

====Seaplane====
{{Main|Seaplane}}
A seaplane (hydroplane) is capable of [[takeoff|taking off]] and [[water landing|landing]] (alighting) on water. Seaplanes that can also operate from dry land are a subclass called [[amphibian aircraft]].<ref>de Saint-Exupery, A. (1940). "Wind, Sand and Stars" p33, Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc.</ref> Seaplanes and amphibians divide into two categories: [[floatplane|float plane]]s and [[flying boat]]s.

* A [[floatplane|float plane]] is similar to a land-based airplane. The [[fuselage]] is not specialized. The wheels are replaced/enveloped by [[Float (nautical)|floats]], allowing the craft to make remain afloat for water landings.
* A [[flying boat]] is a [[seaplane]] with a watertight [[hull (watercraft)|hull]] for the lower (ventral) areas of its fuselage. The fuselage lands and then rests directly on the water's surface, held afloat by the hull. It does not need additional floats for buoyancy, although small underwing floats or fuselage-mounted [[sponson]]s may be used to  stabilize it. Large seaplanes are usually flying boats, embodying most classic amphibian aircraft designs.

====Powered gliders====
{{Main|Powered glider}}
Many forms of glider may include a small power plant. These include:
*[[Motor glider]] – a conventional [[glider aircraft|glider]] or [[sailplane]] with an auxiliary power plant that may be used when in flight to increase performance.<ref>{{cite book|url= http://www.fai.org/gliding/sc3.1.0|title=FAI Sporting Code | section = 3. Gliding, chapter 1: General Rules and Definitions| access-date=21 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007144651/http://www.fai.org/gliding/sc3.1.0 |archive-date=7 October 2007}}</ref>
*[[Powered hang glider]] – a [[hang glider]] with a power plant added.
*[[Powered parachute]] – a [[paraglider]] type of parachute with an integrated air frame, seat, undercarriage and power plant hung beneath.<ref>{{cite web |last=Code of Federal Regulations (U.S.) |title=14 CFR 1.1 - General definitions. |url=https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-1/section-1.1 |website=www.ecfr.gov}}</ref>
*[[Powered paraglider]] or paramotor – a [[paraglider]] with a power plant suspended behind the pilot.<ref>{{cite book | last = Goin | first = Jeff | editor = Dennis Pagen | title = The Powered Paragliding Bible | year = 2006 | isbn = 0-9770966-0-2 | page = 253 | publisher = Airhead Creations }}</ref>

====Ground effect vehicle====
{{main|Ground effect vehicle}}
A ground effect vehicle (GEV) flies close to the terrain, making use of the [[Ground effect (aerodynamics)|ground effect]] – the interaction between the wings and the surface. Some GEVs are able to fly higher out of ground effect (OGE) when required – these are classed as powered fixed-wing aircraft.<ref>Michael Halloran and Sean O'Meara, ''Wing in Ground Effect Craft Review'', DSTO, Australia {{cite web|url=http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/publications/2058/DSTO-GD-0201.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=24 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522002835/http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/publications/2058/DSTO-GD-0201.pdf |archive-date=22 May 2013 |df=dmy }}, p51. Notes an agreement between ICAO and IMO that WIGs come under the jurisdiction of the International Maritime Organisation although there an exception for craft with a sustained use out of ground effect (OGE) to be considered as aircraft.</ref>

===Glider===
[[Image:Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2b glider being launched at Lasham Airfield in UK.jpg|thumb|A [[glider (sailplane)]] being winch-launched]]
{{main|Glider (aircraft)}}
A glider is a heavier-than-air craft whose free flight does not require an engine. A sailplane is a fixed-wing glider designed for soaring – gaining height using updrafts of air and to fly for long periods.

Gliders are mainly used for recreation but have found use for purposes such as [[aerodynamics]] research, warfare and spacecraft recovery.

[[motor glider|Motor gliders]] are equipped with a limited [[propulsion]] system for takeoff, or to extend flight duration.

As is the case with planes, gliders come in diverse forms with varied wings, aerodynamic efficiency, pilot location, and controls. 

Large gliders are most commonly born aloft by a tow-plane or by a [[winch]]. [[Military glider]]s have been used in combat to deliver troops and equipment, while specialized gliders have been used in atmospheric and [[Aerodynamics|aerodynamic]] research. [[Rocket-powered aircraft]] and [[spaceplane]]s have made unpowered landings similar to a glider.

Gliders and sailplanes that are used for the sport of [[gliding]] have high aerodynamic efficiency. The highest [[lift-to-drag ratio]] is 70:1, though 50:1 is common. After take-off, further altitude can be gained through the skillful exploitation of rising air. Flights of thousands of kilometers at average speeds over 200&nbsp;km/h have been achieved.

One small-scale example of a glider is the [[paper aeroplane|paper airplane.]] An ordinary sheet of paper can be folded into an aerodynamic shape fairly easily; its low [[mass]] relative to its surface area reduces the required lift for flight, allowing it to glide some distance.

Gliders and sailplanes share many design elements and aerodynamic principles with powered aircraft. For example, the [[Horten H.IV]] was a tailless [[flying wing]] glider, and the [[Delta wing|delta-winged]] [[Space Shuttle orbiter]] glided during its descent phase. Many gliders adopt similar control surfaces and instruments as airplanes.

====Types ====
[[File:Glider2010-overgunma.ogv|thumb|325px|Video clip of a glider sailing over [[Gunma Prefecture|Gunma Prefecture, Japan]]]] 
The main application of modern glider aircraft is sport and recreation.

=====Sailplane=====
{{Main|Glider (sailplane)}}
Gliders were developed in the 1920s for recreational purposes. As pilots began to understand how to use rising air, [[sailplane]] gliders were developed with a high [[lift-to-drag ratio]]. These allowed the craft to glide to the next source of "[[lift (soaring)|lift]]", increasing their range. This gave rise to the popular sport of [[gliding]].

Early gliders were built mainly of wood and metal, later replaced by composite materials incorporating glass, carbon or [[aramid]] fibers. To minimize [[drag (force)|drag]], these types have a streamlined [[fuselage]] and long narrow wings incorporating a [[Wing configuration#Aspect ratio|high aspect ratio]]. Single-seat and two-seat gliders are available.

Initially, training was done by short "hops" in [[primary glider]]s, which have no [[Cockpit (aviation)|cockpit]] and minimal instruments.<ref name="Schweizer">Schweizer, Paul A: ''Wings Like Eagles, The Story of Soaring in the United States'', pages 14–22. Smithsonian Institution Press, 1988. {{ISBN|0-87474-828-3}}</ref> Since shortly after World War II, training is done in two-seat dual control gliders, but high-performance two-seaters can make long flights. Originally skids were used for landing, later replaced by wheels, often retractable. Gliders known as [[motor glider]]s are designed for unpowered flight, but can deploy [[piston engine|piston]], [[rotary engine|rotary]], [[jet engine|jet]] or [[electric motor|electric engines]].<ref name="definition">{{Cite web|url=http://www.fai.org/gliding/sc3.1.0|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903034839/http://www.fai.org/gliding/sc3.1.0|url-status=dead|title=Definition of gliders used for sporting purposes in FAI Sporting Code|archivedate=3 September 2009}}</ref> Gliders are classified by the [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale|FAI]] for competitions into [[glider competition classes]] mainly on the basis of wingspan and flaps.
[[Image:Goatglider.jpg|thumb|Ultralight "airchair" [[Sandlin Goat|Goat 1 glider]]]]
A class of ultralight sailplanes, including some known as [[microlift glider]]s and some known as airchairs, has been defined by the FAI based on weight. They are light enough to be transported easily, and can be flown without licensing in some countries. Ultralight gliders have performance similar to [[hang gliding|hang gliders]], but offer some crash safety as the pilot can strap into an upright seat within a deform-able structure. Landing is usually on one or two wheels which distinguishes these craft from hang gliders. Most are built by individual designers and hobbyists.

=====Military gliders=====
[[Image:Waco CG-4A USAF.JPG|thumb|A 1943 [[USAAF]] [[Waco CG-4]]A]]
[[Military gliders]] were used during World War II for carrying troops ([[glider infantry]]) and heavy equipment to combat zones. The gliders were towed into the air and most of the way to their target by transport planes, e.g. [[C-47 Dakota]], or by one-time bombers that had been relegated to secondary activities, e.g. [[Short Stirling]]. The advantage over paratroopers were that heavy equipment could be landed and that troops were quickly assembled rather than dispersed over a [[parachute]] [[drop zone]]. The gliders were treated as disposable, constructed from inexpensive materials such as wood, though a few were re-used. By the time of the [[Korean War]], transport aircraft had become larger and more efficient so that even light tanks could be dropped by parachute, obsoleting gliders.

=====Research gliders=====
Even after the development of powered aircraft, gliders continued to be used for [[aviation research]]. The [[NASA Paresev|NASA Paresev Rogallo flexible wing]] was developed to investigate alternative methods of recovering spacecraft. Although this application was abandoned, publicity inspired hobbyists to adapt the flexible-wing [[airfoil]] for hang gliders.

Initial research into many types of fixed-wing craft, including [[flying wing]]s and [[lifting body|lifting bodies]] was also carried out using unpowered prototypes.

=====Hang glider=====
[[Image:Hang gliding hyner.jpg|thumb|Hang gliding]]
A [[hang glider]] is a [[glider aircraft]] in which the pilot is suspended in a harness suspended from the [[airframe|air frame]], and exercises control by shifting body weight in opposition to a control frame. Hang gliders are typically made of an [[aluminium alloy|aluminum alloy]] or [[Composite material|composite]]-framed fabric wing. Pilots can [[Lift (soaring)|soar]] for hours, gain thousands of meters of altitude in [[thermal]] updrafts, perform aerobatics, and glide cross-country for hundreds of kilometers.

=====Paraglider=====
A [[paraglider]] is a lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider with no rigid body.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Whittall|first=Noel|title=Paragliding: The Complete Guide|year=2002|publisher=Airlife Pub|isbn=1-84037-016-5}}</ref> The pilot is suspended in a [[Safety harness|harness]] below a hollow fabric wing whose shape is formed by its suspension lines. Air entering vents in the front of the wing and the aerodynamic forces of the air flowing over the outside power the craft. Paragliding is most often a recreational activity.

====Unmanned gliders====
A [[paper airplane|paper plane]] is a toy aircraft (usually a glider) made out of paper or paperboard.

[[Model glider|Model glider aircraft]] are models of aircraft using lightweight materials such as [[polystyrene]] and [[balsa wood]]. Designs range from simple glider aircraft to accurate [[scale model]]s, some of which can be very large.

[[Glide bomb]]s are bombs with aerodynamic surfaces to allow a gliding flight path rather than a ballistic one. This enables stand-off aircraft to attack a target from a distance.

===Kite===
[[File:Chinese Kite.jpg|thumb|A [[kite]] in flight]]{{Unreferenced section|date=May 2024}}{{main|Kite}}{{See also|Rotor kite}}
A kite is a tethered aircraft held aloft by wind that blows over its wing(s).<ref>[http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/guided.htm "Beginner's Guide to Aeronautics"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325054529/http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/guided.htm |date=25 March 2015 }}, [[NASA]] (11 July 2008).</ref> High pressure below the wing deflects the airflow downwards. This deflection generates horizontal [[Drag (physics)|drag]] in the direction of the wind. The resultant force vector from the lift and drag force components is opposed by the tension of the [[tether]].

Kites are mostly flown for recreational purposes, but have many other uses. Early pioneers such as the [[Wright Brothers]] and [[J.W. Dunne]] sometimes flew an aircraft as a kite in order to confirm its flight characteristics, before adding an engine and flight controls.

====Applications====
[[Image:Chinese dragon kite (Berkeley, California - 2000).jpg|thumb|Chinese dragon kite more than one hundred feet long which flew in the [[Berkeley, California]], kite festival in 2000]]

=====Military =====
Kites have been used for signaling, for delivery of [[munition]]s, and for [[observation]], by lifting an observer above the field of battle, and by using [[kite aerial photography]].

=====Science and meteorology=====
Kites have been used for scientific purposes, such as [[Benjamin Franklin]]'s famous experiment proving that [[lightning]] is [[electricity]]. Kites were the precursors to the traditional [[aircraft]], and were instrumental in the development of early flying craft. [[Alexander Graham Bell]] experimented with large [[man-lifting kite]]s, as did the [[Wright brothers]] and [[Lawrence Hargrave]]. Kites had a historical role in lifting scientific instruments to measure atmospheric conditions for [[weather forecasting]].

=====Radio aerials and light beacons=====
Kites can be used to carry radio antennas. This method was used for the reception station of the first transatlantic transmission by [[Guglielmo Marconi|Marconi]]. [[moored balloon|Captive balloons]] may be more convenient for such experiments, because kite-carried antennas require strong wind, which may be not always available with heavy equipment and a ground conductor.

Kites can be used to carry light sources such as light sticks or battery-powered lights.

=====Kite traction=====
[[Image:Kite333.JPG|thumb|A quad-line traction kite, commonly used as a power source for [[kite surfing]]]]
Kites can be used to pull people and vehicles downwind. Efficient [[Foil kite|foil-type kites]] such as [[power kite]]s can also be used to sail upwind under the same principles as used by other sailing craft, provided that lateral forces on the ground or in the water are redirected as with the keels, center boards, wheels and ice blades of traditional sailing craft. In the last two decades, [[Kiteboarding|kite sailing]] sports have become popular, such as [[Kite buggy|kite buggying]], [[kite landboarding]], [[kiteboating|kite boating]] and kite surfing. [[Snowkiting|Snow kiting]] is also popular.

Kite sailing opens several possibilities not available in traditional sailing:

* Wind speeds are greater at higher altitudes
* Kites may be maneuvered dynamically, which dramatically increases the available force
* Mechanical structures are not needed to withstand bending forces; vehicles/hulls can be light or eliminated.

=====Power generation=====
{{See also|Laddermill|High altitude wind power}}
Research and development projects investigate kites for harnessing high altitude wind currents for electricity generation.<ref>{{cite web |author=Joseph Faust |url=http://energykitesystems.net/index.html |title=Kite Energy Systems |publisher=Energykitesystems.net |access-date=3 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120824215911/http://www.energykitesystems.net/index.html |archive-date=24 August 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===== Cultural uses =====
Kite festivals are a popular form of entertainment throughout the world. They include local events, traditional festivals and major international festivals.

====Designs====
[[Image:Stringoperamaskkite.JPG|thumb|Train of connected kites]]
*[[Bermuda kite]]
*[[Bowed kite]], e.g. [[Rokkaku dako|Rokkaku]]
*Cellular or [[box kite]]
*[[Chapi-chapi]]
*[[Delta kite]]
*[[Foil kite|Foil]], [[parafoil]] or [[bow kite]]
*[[Malay kite]] see also [[wau bulan]]
*[[Tetrahedral kite]]

====Types====
{{Main|Kite types}}
*[[Expanded polystyrene kite]]
*[[Fighter kite]]
*[[Indoor kite]]
*[[Inflatable single-line kite]]
*[[Kytoon]]
*[[Man-lifting kite]]
*[[Rogallo wing|Rogallo parawing kite]]
*[[Sport kite|Stunt (sport) kite]]
*[[Paravane (water kite)|Water kite]]