| 释义 |
sailplane|ˈseɪlpleɪn|
Also sail-plane.
[f. sail n.1 + plane n.3]
A heavier-than-air aircraft without an engine (or having only a small engine which is not normally used except to take off); = glider 2 a (but see quot. 1971).
1922Flight XIV. 545/2 The gliding angle of a good ‘sail-plane’ might be in the neighbourhood of 1 in 16 or 1 in 18. 1933Sun (Baltimore) 5 Aug. 15/5 During the day sport planes circled about his sailplane. Ibid. 23 Sept. 4/5 Federal officials..will gather..to witness a demonstration in sailplane flying. 1935Ibid. 17 May 1/4 The cheapest flight from London to Paris was made this evening when Robert Kronfeld..landed..in his sailplane driven by a motor-cycle engine of five horsepower, having consumed $1.50 in fuel for the 210-mile flight. 1940Illustr. London News CXCVII. 85/1 The type of sailplane (or, to use the popular, but less correct, term, ‘glider’) required for use in transporting troops must, of course, be very large. 1950Chambers's Jrnl. 137/2 In tropical countries some birds utilise these thermals, as they are called by sailplane pilots, and indeed make no attempt to fly until the air has warmed up. 1961New Scientist 18 May 362/2 The Olympia 460 is what is called a ‘standard’ class sailplane. That is to say, it has a span of only 15 metres instead of the 19 metres allowed in the open class for world championship flights. 1971N. Ellison Brit. Gliders & Sailplanes 9 The terms ‘gliders’ and ‘sailplanes’ nowadays are somewhat synonymous. When these terms were first introduced a sailplane was defined as ‘a glider having a sinking speed of less than 0·8 metres (2·625 feet) per second’. Today, nearly all motorless aircraft are sailplanes and capable of soaring flight, i.e. flying without loss of height or gaining height.
Hence ˈsailplaner, in the same sense; ˈsailplaning vbl. n., the flying of sailplanes, gliding; also transf.
1923Flight XV. 34/2 In order to encourage gliding and sailplaning in America, the National Aeronautic Association of U.S.A. have appointed a sub-committee to deal with this form of flying. 1930Daily Express 8 Sept. 16 The first lesson in the art of sail-planing. 1962Punch 15 Aug. 237/2 It [sc. the fulmar] makes distance at sea..by sailplaning and tacking. 1973Sci. Amer. Dec. 134/2 The cockpit panel of a serious sailplaner shows 10 dials, plus radio, oxygen gear and cameras. 1977Maclean's Mag. 2 May 58/2 For recreation they have turned to such exotic and often dangerous sports as..sailplaning. |