Whirly - I was indoctrinated at RAFC Cranwell! I do refer to the Pitts as a biplane, as well.

Bernard Chabbert, the French airline pilot who writes for one of the American flying comics, wrote a lovely article about flying his Waco. In it, he analysed the difference between avion and aeronafe (sp?).

Anyone else seen said article?

Stik

Let me give you guys two definitions as defined by the FAA :cool: :


Aircraft: means a device that is used or intended to be used for flight in the air

now this can be anything - from a balloon to a helo to a airplane


Airplane: means an engine-driven fixed-wing aircraft heavier than air, that is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against its wings

Notice, it doesn't say "aeroplane" :D :D

My English ;) dictionary says:
Aircraft - collective name for flying machines; aeroplane :p

You will learn the difference between 'aircraft' and 'aeroplane' when you do JAR-FCL ATPL Aviation Law. But either are infinitely better than the totally inaccurate word 'airplane' used by some. The same people who spell 'manoeuvre' as 'maneuver'........

'Planes' come in various forms. But they are all woodworking tools.

@beagle

it aint inaccurate on my side of the pond :cool:

Usually, and especially when I want her to start promptly and behave herself, I call her Lulubelle. No idea why - must be lost in the depths of my subconscious. But she seems to like it, and treats me well.

And she's an AEROPLANE.

AIRPLANE is a device for shaving slices off the atmosphere.

Out of interest, is there anybody out there, of either (any?) sex, who regards their aircraft as anything other than she?

G

Aye! Me hearties!
 

I always refer to "it"

I never attach gender.

Referring to "her" or "she" makes you sound like Captain Birdseye! :rolleyes:

(Only my opinion)

My heli (note not Helo) is an aircraft

I usually use aeroplane but have been known to use bitch, as in if you don't start this time you bitch, I'm selling you. :D :D

Well I climb into my KITE every morning and take the old MACHINE for a spin, what? And love annoying people who get tetchy when I call it a PLANE :D .

I call it whatever it wants, as long as it stays aloft and only comes down when i ask it to.

Seriously though i usually call it an aircraft.:p

Usually call it an airplane - but use a/c in writing ... (aircraft - not airconditioning! :D )

Most planes are "it" - there are only 2 or 3 around who I call "she" :p

"Aeroplane" normally, but I've recently noticed that if I'm not involved in the operation and am therefore thinking of it as a place rather than a flying machine, i.e. as SLF on an airliner, then I sometimes refer to it as a "plane", as in, "It's OK, I had some food on the plane". Weird.

Since knowing Stik, it's been "aeroplane". But like AerBabe, the odd "plane" does slip out, especially when talking to non-flyers about "plane crashes" etc etc.

But for some very silly reason "aeroplane" sounds almost more professional :rolleyes:!

Also from time to time I call the wing the "plane", which I spose isn't wrong as that's what it is!

tKF

pure wee mad mental hing that goes up and doon

DB6 - having watched you at very close range for the past 48 hrs, I suppose that you'll be referring to that bitch aircraft when you see her back at work on Monday.

So you didn't win a medal then at the Nationals? (Neither did I!!)

Stik

The Douglas Bader Story
 

There was a Douglas Bader film on terrestrial telly yesterday early evening.

Once the long awaited spares eventually arrived at Duxford, Bader asked his Engineering SNCO if he now had sufficient.

"I've got enough for all the planes in Fighter Command, Sir!", said the chap.

"It is an aeroplane, never call it a plane!", said Bader.

And if it is good enough for Douglas, then it should be good enough for the rest of us!

Stik:D

Airplane - doesn't sound like a proper word

Aeroplane - sounds too much like 'airplane' when you say it quickly and too much like baby talk when you say it slowly

Aircraft - sounds far too general

and

Plane - sounds too......well plain

At the moment if having an argument that I'm not winning I say..."Yeah, but I can fly planes!"

....works for me right now!

Aeroplane (or airplane) never plane (clearly for wood working) but occasionally 'plane (the apostrophe makes ALL the difference)
Not to mention 'plank' or 'seized wing'
Can't stand the ex Navy use of 'aeroplane' for 'helicopter', Duh..