Plain English Meaning
Full Definition
The straight-line distance from one wingtip to the other, measured perpendicular to the airplane's centerline.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft specifications, ground handling, hangar spacing, and ground effect discussions during takeoff and landing.
Derivation
From 'wing' plus 'span,' an old English word meaning the distance between two points. The same idea appears in 'span of a bridge.' It simply names the distance the wing reaches across.
Why Pilots Care
Affects decisions about taxiway and hangar clearance, wingtip from , and the amount of induced- reduction experienced in ground effect.