Plain English Meaning

Airplanes that fly by using a spinning propeller on the front (or sometimes the back) to pull them through the air, rather than using a jet engine alone.

Full Definition

Airplanes that produce thrust by spinning a propeller, which is a set of rotating blades shaped like small wings that pull (or push) the airplane through the air. The propeller is turned by an engine — most commonly a piston engine, but in some cases a turbine engine (a turboprop).

Context Anchor

You see this term in maneuver descriptions, especially slow flight, where power changes in propeller airplanes affect speed, climb or descent, and .