Aircraft

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Revision as of 13:17, 15 November 2007 by imported>Dan Nachbar (added link to spacecraft)
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Aircraft are vehicles capable of sustained flight within the Earth's atmosphere.

Vehicles that travel beyond the Earth's atmosphere, normally defined as 100,000 meters altitude, are called spacecraft.

Aircraft remain aloft using on two basic principles: 1) aerodynamically by pushing air downward or 2) aerostatically by using low density gas.

Most aircraft use aerodynamic lift. These include airplanes and helicopters.

Aircraft that use aerostatic lift include balloons and airships.