Definition
The straight-line distance from one wingtip to the other, measured perpendicular to the airplane's longitudinal axis.
Plain English
How wide the airplane is from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other.
Context Anchor
You may see wing span in aircraft specifications, performance information, hangar planning, or when judging clearance near other aircraft and objects on the ground.
Derivation
“Span” means the distance from one end of something to the other. In aviation, wing span applies that idea to the airplane’s wings: one wingtip across to the other wingtip.
Why Pilots Care
Affects hangar fit, taxi clearances, roll response, and certain performance calculations such as wing loading.
Intuition Check
Do not confuse wing span with the length of one wing. Wing span is the full width across the airplane, from wingtip to wingtip.
Example Sentence 1
The Cessna 172 has a wing span of about 36 feet, which fits comfortably in most general aviation hangars.
Example Sentence 2
Knowing the wing span helped determine the minimum taxiway width needed at the destination airport.