What is an aeroplane?

An aeroplane is a power-driven heavier-than-air aircraft that derives its lift in flight mainly from aerodynamic reactions on surfaces which remain fixed under given conditions of flight.

When we talk about an aeroplane, we are referring to a particular type of aircraft that is designed to fly using aerodynamic lift. Unlike a balloon or an airship, which can remain airborne because they are lighter than the surrounding air, an aeroplane is heavier than air and needs aerodynamic forces to support its weight in flight. Its engine provides the power needed to move the aircraft through the air, while its fixed wings produce the lift required to keep it airborne. The wings themselves do not rotate, they remain fixed during the flight conditions for which the aeroplane is designed. This is why an aeroplane is considered one specific category within the much broader definition of an aircraft.

An aeroplane is power-driven. It is heavier than air. It generates lift through aerodynamic forces. Its lifting surfaces remain fixed during flight. An aeroplane is one type of aircraft.