Aircraft categories

An airplane (American English), or aeroplane (Commonwealth English), informally plane, is a fixed-wing aircraft that is propelled forward by thrust from a jet engine, propeller, or rocket engine. Airplanes come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and wing configurations. The broad spectrum of uses for airplanes includes recreation, transportation of goods and people, military, and research.

thumb|A modern aerostat used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the [[Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS)]]

thumb|A Bell 47 helicopter, an early example of a powered rotorcraft

unpowered fixed-wing aircraft

parachute with motor and wheels