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1992-09-02
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Aeroplane, or airplane
Powered heavier-than-air craft supported in
flight by fixed wings. Aeroplanes are
propelled by the thrust of a jet engine or
airscrew (propeller). They must be designed
aerodynamically, since streamlining ensures
maximum flight efficiency. The shape of a
plane depends on its use and operating speed
- aircraft operating at well below the speed
of sound need not be as streamlined as
supersonic aircraft. The Wright brothers flew
the first powered plane (a biplane) in Kitty
Hawk, North Carolina, USA, 1903. For the
history of aircraft and aviation, see