Fixed-wing aircraft

.

Aeroplanes or airplanes are technically called fixed-wing aircraft. t in 1853.

Besides the method of propulsion, aeroplanes are generally characterized by their wing configuration. The most important wing characteristics are:

• Number of wings - Monoplane, biplane, etc.
• Wing support - Braced or cantilever, rigid or flexible.

Wing planform - including aspect ratio, angle of sweep and any variations alo

The forerunner of the aeroplane is the kite. Whereas an aeroplane relies on its forward speed to create airflow over the wings, a kite is tethered to the ground and relies on the wind blowing over its wings to provide lift. Kites were the first kind of aircraft to fly, and were invented in China around 500 BC. Much aerodynamic research was done with kites before test aircraft, wind tunnels and computer modelling programs became available.

• The first heavier-than-air craft capable of controlled free flight were unpowered aeroplanes. A glider designed by Cayley carried out the first true manned, controlled fligh ng the span. Includes the important class of delta wings.
• Location of the horizontal stabiliser, if any.
• Dihedral angle - positive, zero or negative (anhedral).

A variable geometry aircraft can change its wing configuration during flight.

A flying wing has no fuselage, though it may have small blisters or pods. The opposite of this is a lifting body which has no wings, though it may have small stabilising and control surfaces.

Seaplanes are aircraft that land on water, and they fit into two broad classes: Flying boats are supported on the water by their fuselage. A float plane's fuselage remains clear of the water at all times, the aircraft being supported by two or more floats attached to the fuselage and/or wings. Some examples of both flying boats and float planes are amphibious aircraft.

Some people consider wing-in-ground-effect vehicles to be aeroplanes, others do not. These craft "fly" close to the surface of the ground or water. An example is the Russian ekranoplan (nicknamed the "Caspian Sea Monster"). Man-powered aircraft also rely on ground effect to remain airborne, but this is only because they are so underpowered—the airframe is theoretically capable of flying much higher. (Hovercraft are not considered to be aircraft, since they rely wholly on the pressure of air on the ground beneath, and have no other lift mechanism).