aircraft n : a vehicle that can fly

Aircraft \Air"craft`\, n. sing. & pl. Any device, as a balloon, a["e]roplane, etc., for floating in, or flying through, the air.

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Aircraft are vehicles which are able to fly by being supported by the air, or in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.

Although rockets and missiles also travel through the atmosphere, most are not considered aircraft because they use rocket thrust instead of aerodynamics as the primary means of lift. However, rocket planes and cruise missiles are considered aircraft because they rely on lift from the air. Another type of aircraft is the spaceplane which is an aircraft designed to fly up to extreme altitudes into space and land as a conventional aircraft.

The human activity which surrounds aircraft is called aviation. Manned aircraft are flown by an onboard pilot. Unmanned aerial vehicles may be remotely controlled or self-controlled by onboard computers. Target drones are an example of UAVs. Aircraft may be classified by different criteria, such as lift type, propulsion, usage and others.

• NORAD intercepts 2 aircraft in restricted airspace during G-8 meeting at Camp David - Washington Post
  CAMP DAVID, Md. — Military aircraft have intercepted two small planes in restricted airspace around Camp David, where world leaders are gathering for an economic summit. The North American Aerospace Defense Command says the two Cessna 172 aircraft were ... Read more on this news related to 'Aircraft'
• Pentagon says China may build aircraft carriers - YAHOO!
  WASHINGTON (AP) — China may have started work on it first domestically built aircraft carrier and is likely to produce a number of carriers over the next decade as part of an aggressive effort to modernize its military, the Pentagon said Friday. Read more on this news related to 'Aircraft'
• Oman orders C295 aircraft - United Press International
  MADRID, May 21 (UPI) -- Airbus Military of Spain reports the Royal Air Force of Oman is becoming the first Gulf Cooperation Council member to acquire C295 aircraft. Under a new contract -- its monetary value was not disclosed – the sultanate ... Read more on this news related to 'Aircraft'