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Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. v. To glide toward the earth in an airplane with the engine cut off.
  2. v. To glide toward the earth with the engine cut off. Used of an airplane.
  3. v. To make one's way or go by gliding.
  4. n. The act or an instance of volplaning.

Wiktionary

  1. n. a steep, controlled dive, especially by an aircraft with the engine off
  2. v. to make a volplane

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. v. To glide in a flying machine.

Etymologies

  1. From French vol plané, gliding flight : vol, flight (from Old French, from voler, to fly; see volley) + plané, gliding, past participle of planer, to glide; see plane3.

Examples

  • “They were to glide, or as it is called "volplane" (pronounced vol-pla-nay, with the accent on the last syllable) to the ground.”

    Dick Hamilton's Airship, or, a Young Millionaire in the Clouds

  • “He found he could volplane it without engine by reaching in to grab the stick among the flames although his hand got burnt.”

    The Rainbow and the Rose

  • “There was the aerodrome, turn off the cock and put her into a volplane.”

    The Rainbow and the Rose

  • “He passed over high buildings, skirted what seemed like a factory district, and began to volplane.”

    Dave Dashaway and His Hydroplane

  • “Then, timing and calculating a volplane glide, he let the machine down easily to the ground.”

    Dave Dashaway and His Hydroplane

  • “Dave turned the head of the machine on a volplane sweep, and the searchlight operator could not locate it again.”

    Dave Dashaway and His Hydroplane

  • “John shut off both engines, and they began to volplane down in a great stillness, sailing like an immense hawk.”

    Around the World in Ten Days

  • “We could not continue, any more than the other fellow, and would have to volplane to the ground.”

    Around the World in Ten Days

  • “Turning again, he concluded to pass between two of the pinnacles, and immediately volplane down on the other side.”

    The Boy Scouts on the Yukon

  • “For as Tom shut off his motor, to volplane down, thus reducing all noise on his craft, they could dimly hear the shouts and calls for help, coming from the water craft below them.”

    Tom Swift Among the Fire Fighters, or, Battling with Flames from the Air

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Lists

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Comments

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  • reesetee 1) To glide toward the earth in an airplane with the engine cut off. 2) To make one's way or go by gliding. Apr 2, 2008

‘volplane’ has been looked up 554 times, loved by 1 person, added to 6 lists, commented on 1 time, and has a Scrabble score of 13.