Aircraft: Difference between revisions

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imported>Dan Nachbar
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imported>Dan Nachbar
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Aircraft are vehicles capable of sustained flight within the Earth's atmosphere.
[[Image:Hot air balloon in flight.jpg|right|thumb|350px|{{#ifexist:Template:Hot air balloon in flight.jpg/credit|{{Hot air balloon in flight.jpg/credit}}<br/>|}}A [[hot air balloon]] is a type of aerostatic aircraft.]]
 
'''Aircraft''' are vehicles capable of sustained flight within the Earth's atmosphere.


Vehicles that
Vehicles that

Revision as of 19:15, 17 November 2007

(PD) Photo: -- Bryan Kennedy
A hot air balloon is a type of aerostatic aircraft.

Aircraft are vehicles capable of sustained flight within the Earth's atmosphere.

Vehicles that travel beyond the Earth's atmosphere, normally defined as 100,000 meters altitude, are called spacecraft.

Aircraft remain aloft using on two basic principles: 1) aerodynamically by pushing air downward or 2) aerostatically by using low density gas.

Most aircraft use aerodynamic lift. These include airplanes and helicopters.

Aircraft that use aerostatic lift include balloons and airships.