rocket plane

noun

: an airplane propelled by rockets

Examples of rocket plane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The rocket planes tested reaction-control systems for maneuvering where the air was too thin for normal aerodynamic controls, while gathering data on heating, stability, structural loads, human performance and piloting techniques during reentry. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Virgin decided to move on to the Delta-class program after completing 12 flights to the edge of space—above 80 km or 50 miles, as defined by the US government—with the previous-generation VSS Unity rocket plane. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2026

These lower operating expenses are tied to Virgin Galactic's decision to suspend operations of its VSS Unity suborbital rocket plane last year to focus investment into a new series of suborbital spacecraft known as Delta-class ships. — Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 28 Feb. 2025

Even after digital computers arrived, analog computers remained popular into the 1970s, especially for simulations (they were used to drive flight simulators for the X-15 [pdf] rocket plane and early spacecraft). — Stephen Cass, IEEE Spectrum, 25 Mar. 2015

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rocket plane

• aeroplane
• appertain
• ascertain
• capitaine
• cassegrain
• cellophane
• chatelaine
• counterpane
• entertain
• halothane
• hurricane
• hyperplane