An aircraft is a vehicle that can fly by gaining support from the air. It counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or, in a few cases, direct downward thrust from its engines. Common examples of aircraft include airplanes, drones, rotorcraft, airships, gliders, paramotors, and hot air balloons. Part 1 of Subchapter A of Chapter I of Title 14 of the U. S. Code of Federal Regulations states that aircraft "means a device that is used or intended to be used for flight in the air".
Key Facts
| Subject | Aircraft |
| Category | Vehicle or machine that can fly by gaining support from the air |
| Reading time | 1 min · Intermediate |
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