A fixed wing aircraft is one that is capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed and the shape of the wings. The wings of a fixed-wing aircraft are not necessarily rigid; kites, hang-gliders and aeroplanes using wing-warping or variable geometry are all regarded as fixed-wing aircraft.
A powered fixed-wing aircraft that gains forward thrust from a propeller or jet engine is typically called an aeroplane, airplane, or simply a plane. Other types of powered fixed-wing aircraft include powered paragliders.
Unpowered fixed-wing aircraft, including free-flying gliders of various kinds and tethered kites, can use moving air to gain height.
Most fixed-wing aircraft are flown by a pilot on board the aircraft, but some are designed to be remotely or computer-controlled.
Aircraft such as helicopters and hovercraft are not considered fixed wing craft, because they use the power of rotors to achieve both thrust and lift.