volplane

English

Etymology

From French vol plané (“gliding flight”).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈvɒlpleɪn/

Noun

volplane (plural volplanes)

  1. A steep, controlled dive, especially by an aircraft with the engine off.

Verb

volplane (third-person singular simple present volplanes, present participle volplaning, simple past and past participle volplaned)

  1. To make a volplane.
    • 1973, Thomas Pynchon, Gravity's Rainbow:
      Curtains of vapor drift back to reveal the Americans, volplaning along well inside ten meters and only a little faster than the balloon.
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