# Aircraft > [[PORTAL_Aviation|Aviation]] · [[PORTAL_Avionics|Avionics]] spine. ## Microsim — queued <p class="wt-pending"><strong>Microsim in the draft queue.</strong> Troy is building the interactive sim for this station by hand; the sourced physics below is complete and citable now.</p> ## Overview An aircraft is a vehicle designed to fly by counteracting gravity through aerodynamic or buoyant forces. Fixed-wing aircraft like airplanes generate lift using wings as airflow passes over them during forward motion; rotorcraft such as the [[Helicopter|helicopter]] employ spinning rotor blades to create lift and enable hovering; lighter-than-air craft, including balloons and airships, achieve flight through buoyancy by containing gases less dense than the surrounding air. All powered aircraft require engines producing thrust to maintain propulsion. The choice between categories depends on intended use: fixed-wing designs excel at speed and distance, rotorcraft offer manoeuvrability and vertical takeoff, and aerostats provide hovering ability with minimal fuel consumption for specialised applications. **On the spine:** [[Helicopter]] · [[Jet_engine]] · [[Air_traffic_control]] · [[Avionics]] · [[Radar]] · [[Autopilot]] · [[Fly-by-wire]] · [[Inertial_navigation_system]] · [[Fibre-optic_gyroscope]] · [[Ring_laser_gyroscope]] · [[Aviation]]. ## Wikipedia : Wikitube **Strict pair:** [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft) : [Wikitube](https://en.wikitube.io/wiki/Aircraft) --- *Repopulated 2026-08-05 · text transfer · 0 deletions.*