heavier-than-air craft
- noun
- /ˈhɛviər ðən ɛr kræft/
- Specialized
:
aeronave más pesada que el aire
- Dr. MacCready became internationally known in 1977 as the "father of human-powered flight" when his Gossamer Condor made the first sustained, controlled flight by a heavier-than-air craft powered solely by its pilot's muscles.
Examples
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The Wright brothers invented the first successful heavier-than-air craft that could carry passengers over long distances.
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One of the first things you see inside the museum is a replica of the Wright's 1902 Flyer, the first successful powered heavier-than-air craft.
Blog text (19) -
Once the heavier-than-air craft took off, it soared gracefully above the clouds, showcasing the power of aviation technology.
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Modern heavier-than-air craft are equipped with advanced technology that enhances flight safety and efficiency.
Antonyms
- Specialized
1
5.9
An aircraft that floats because it is lighter than the air, like a balloon or airship
How Buoyant
- Specialized
1
5.9
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
heavier-than-air + craft
The meaning is directly compositional: 'heavier-than-air' (more heavy than air) combined with 'craft' yields a vehicle that is not buoyant and must rely on power to stay aloft. This comparative + noun pattern is cross-linguistically regular (e.g. 'plus lourd que l'air' / 'más pesado que el aire'), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can reasonably infer the intended sense.
Etymology
Heavier-than-air craft comes from a simple idea: these machines are literally heavier than the air, so these craft cannot float like 'balloons' or 'airships'. Because they are heavier, airplanes and helicopters must use engines, wings or rotors to lift and move, so the phrase means 'aircraft that need power to stay in the sky'.