aircraft

An aircraft represents a vehicle that is able to gain lift and fly by countering the force of gravity. This can be achieved either by static or dynamic lift, or sometimes the downward thrust of a jet engine.


Aircraft can be categorized into civil and military, the latter including non-combat aircraft as well. Military aircraft are usually operated by armed services and can be either fixed wing (such as planes) or rotary-wing (such as helicopters). Non-combat military aircraft primarily perform supporting roles (including carrying equipment, supplies, etc) and may be armed for self-defense purposes. Combat aircraft are designed and equipped to destroy enemy targets. They can be broadly divided into fighters and bombers, with some performing mixed functions, like fighters-bombers and ground-attack aircraft.

A fighter aircraft is used mainly for engaging in air-to-air combat with another aircraft. For this purpose, fighters need to be small, fast and maneuverable. They are a key component in establishing air superiority and control over the battlefield, making the acquisition and maintenance fighter fleets an important part of the defense budgets of today's armed forces. Several international manufacturers of military aircraft parts provide support to the different government air forces around the world. This makes the military parts and components industry a significant contributor to the economy of numerous countries.

By contrast, a bomber aircraft is designed to disable ground targets, either by dropping bombs on them or by launching guided missiles at them. A distinction is made between strategic and tactical bombing. Strategic bombing seeks to weaken the enemy's war efforts by destroying supply bases, production units, shipyards or other resources. Strategic bombers operate at long-ranges and are usually able to carry an impressive arsenal. Tactical bombing targets military units and requires smaller, swifter aircraft that operate at short ranges and assist the efforts of ground or sea troops.

Civil aviation usually distinguishes between commercial and general aircraft types. The commercial category includes aircraft designed to carry passengers or cargo. The large passenger-carrying planes are usually referred to as airliners. General aviation is a broader term usually covering all types of aircraft used for any purposes other than military. This includes medical transports, business jets, emergency services, racers and many more.

You'll find bloggers talking about aircraft at sites like blogs.ei.columbia.edu and isu.edu.

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Original Technorati articles tagged “aircraft”

• in Finance
  Two Foreign Arms Deals for Boeing Cushion Future U.S. Defense Cuts
  Boeing won two deals with India and Taiwan this week that will help offset reductions in domestic arms spending.
  by Dagpotter / on Jun 11, 2011
• in Technology
  Twenty Six Hours Flight By Solar Powered Aircraft Marks New Heights
  At a top speed of 78 miles per hour, it is termed to be the longest test flight of a piloted, solar powered aircraft.
  by jaideepkhanduja / on Jul 9, 2010

Latest blogosphere posts tagged “aircraft”

 

• Rafale Wins One As India Accepts Dassault’s Bid for MMRCA

  
  Defense Procurement News — Authority: 116
  The long running sage of India’s new fighter contract took a major step closer to completion yesterday as the Indian government announced that Dassault Rafale will be considered for the South East Asian country’s Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) contract. In November there had been a decision to ...
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• New Ideas Sharpen Focus for Greener Aircraft

  
  The Engineering Economist — Authority: 123
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• ‘Flying People’ Take to the Skies of New York

  
  Diseno-art.com — Authority: 460
  It’s a bit off-topic, but this viral marketing video is so clever, and kinda vehicle related, that it’s worth sharing. In order to help promote the new supernatural movie ‘Chronicle’, the marketing company behind the 20th Century Fox production commissioned three life-sized, human-shaped RC aircraft. The ...
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• IAF plane crashes near Chennai, pilots safe (Lead)

  
  Thaindian News — Authority: 533
  Chennai, Jan 31 (IANS) An Indian Air Force (IAF) trainer aircraft crashed into a lake near here early Tuesday but both pilots ejected safely, officials said. The two-seater Kiran trainer aircraft crashed as it was returning to the Tambaram air force station after a routine training sortie.It then plunged into the ...
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  War On You: Breaking Alternative News — Authority: 120
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  Thaindian News — Authority: 533
  Balasore (Orissa), Jan 31 (IANS) India Tuesday successfully tested the indigenously developed pilotless target aircraft (PTA) Lakshya from a military base in Orissa, official sources said.It was test flown from the integrated test range (ITR) at Chandipur in Balasore, 215 km from the capital Bhubaneswar, around 11.40 ...
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• Iran to unveil new home-made UAV

  
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• 15,000 fire extinguishers removed from planes worldwide after Welsh factory owner’s fraud

  
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• US making powerful bomb to hit Iran: Report

  
  Thaindian News — Authority: 533
  Washington, Jan 28 (IANS) The Pentagon has stepped up efforts to make a bomb capable of destroying Iran’s most heavily fortified underground facilities, the Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.“The 30,000-pound (around 13,600 kg) ‘bunker-buster’ bomb, known as the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), was ...
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  Thaindian News — Authority: 533
  WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) — The U.S. military has made a secret request for additional funding to upgrade its largest conventional bomb because it is not yet capable of destroying Iran’s most heavily fortified underground facilities, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.The 30,000-pounds ...
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• Indy Transponder 28-JAN-2012 1145z

  
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• Solar Storm Forces Delta, United To Change Flight Patterns

  
  Popular Fidelity — Authority: 120
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• Pentagon to cut USAF’s RQ-4 Global Hawk Unmanned Aircraft program

  
  World Military Forum - Latest Military News — Authority: 95
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