Fixed Wing

roscoe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,657
"Fixed wing" or "small fixed wing" aircraft is a term that comes up in the news occasionally.

As opposed to a plane that flaps its wings like a bird?

Aren't most planes "fixed wing" ?

I know there are some planes on which the wings move, but aren't they the minority, especially in small planes?

And why make the distinction?

"Journalists" just grabbing a term they have heard ?
 

roscoe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,657
So why not just call it an airplane?



The reason I wrote this:
"I know there are some planes on which the wings move"

is because I have seen planes with wings that retracted, rearward, as the planes went faster.
 

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
15,417
So why not just call it an airplane? Think



The reason I wrote this:
"I know there are some planes on which the wings move"

is because I have seen planes with wings that retracted, rearward, as the planes went faster.
Becouse there are "airplanes" that have rotary wings as well
 
Last edited:

southkogs

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 7, 2010
Messages
14,785
A helicopter is technically an airplane. On an airplane like a commercial jet or a private Cessna, the wings are "fixed" or stationary against the airframe. On an airplane like a helicopter, the wings are rotary against the airframe.

You also have other technical variants: swept wing (B-52) , variable swept wing (f14), delta wing (F-106) ... Some of which are also classified fixed wing.

When pilots talk, generally the delineation is between fixed wings (anything that isn't a helicopter) and rotary wing (anything that is a helicopter).

For added fun, the military helicopter pilots typically refer to their birds as "ships." (At least the bulk of 'em that I interact with)
 

GA_Boater

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
May 24, 2011
Messages
49,038
I was looking for that vid, bekosh, but fell short. The bed with the rotating umbrella had promise. :eek:
 

southkogs

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 7, 2010
Messages
14,785
I wish I could find Jonathan Winters doing Maude Frickert as the world's oldest airline stewardess. The bit about her brother scotch taping pigeons to his arms to fly is a riot.
 

roscoe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,657
I guess I've never heard a helicopter called a rotary winged aircraft.
I've always heard them called helicopters, or choppers, or helos.
I've never heard the rotors called wings either.

So now I have learned something.

I wonder if the "journalists" that use the term, know what it means.
 

waterinthefuel

Commander
Joined
Nov 15, 2003
Messages
2,726
Yep, what everyone else said was right.

Rotary wing aircraft are helicopters. I know like in corporate aviation, for a company like PHI that has airplanes and helicopters, to distinguish which one you're discussing you'll say "rotary wing" or "fixed wing" division. Fixed wing is airplanes. Everything else isn't.

A helicopters rotor blade is simply a wing.
 

kenmyfam

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 10, 2006
Messages
14,385
I'll take the wings that are firmly attached to the sides of the aircraft :)
 

Illinoid

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 28, 2013
Messages
137
Technically Helicopters don't fly, they just beat the air into submission or so I was told by a Marine aviation mechanic.
 

southkogs

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 7, 2010
Messages
14,785
^^^^ LOL: I went glider flying last week, and had to mentally get over that hump of watching the wings be put on. "FIRMLY ATTACHED" became quite a consideration.
 
Top