volplane

English

Etymology

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] 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 volplan, present participle ing, 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.