tilt-rotor
noun
tilt-ro·tor
ˈtilt-ˌrō-tər 
: an aircraft that has rotors at the end of each wing which can be oriented vertically for vertical takeoffs and landings, horizontally for forward flight, or to any position in between
Examples of tilt-rotor in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Operation Spider’s Web saw 117 attack drones, mostly small, relatively cheap tilt-rotor forward-person view drones, suddenly emerge from hidden crates inside trucks strategically parked near Russian airbases thousands of miles from Ukraine.
—
Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
This is not the first time that an eVTOL has made such a transition flight with a pilot aboard, but the others by the likes of Beta Technologies and Wick Aero used aircraft with separate horizontal and vertical flight systems, while the S4 used a tilt-rotor system for both maneuvers.
—David Szondy, New Atlas, 29 Apr. 2025
In addition, Sikorsky says its RBW design also helps tail-sitter or tilt-rotor aircraft and similar vehicles have smoother transitions from hovering to slow horizontal flight to cruising speeds.
—David Szondy, New Atlas, 10 Mar. 2025
By 2020, the design brief had morphed through a 12-rotor three-person contender called the Seraph to a tilt-rotor people carrier concept dubbed the VA-1X – which the company's Chief Engineer detailed in an interview shortly after the reveal.
—Paul Ridden, New Atlas, 19 July 2024
Abe has reaffirmed Noda’s plan to buy 42 F-35 fighters and has announced his intention to purchase 17 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and 52 amphibious assault vehicles.
—Michael Auslin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2016
Meanwhile, Boeing has built the V-22 Osprey that uses tilt-rotors to achieve higher flight speeds, though that is bulky and designed for air combat.
—Umar Shakir, The Verge, 15 May 2024
House investigators have called on Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to explain problems with the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and what the Pentagon is doing to ensure its safety following a series of crashes that have claimed dozens of service members’ lives.
—Doug Cameron, WSJ, 21 Dec. 2023
In addition, the aircraft sports 30 tilt-rotors and can fly at an elevation of 10,000 feet.
—Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 18 Oct. 2023
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Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
This is not the first time that an eVTOL has made such a transition flight with a pilot aboard, but the others by the likes of Beta Technologies and Wick Aero used aircraft with separate horizontal and vertical flight systems, while the S4 used a tilt-rotor system for both maneuvers.
—David Szondy, New Atlas, 29 Apr. 2025
In addition, Sikorsky says its RBW design also helps tail-sitter or tilt-rotor aircraft and similar vehicles have smoother transitions from hovering to slow horizontal flight to cruising speeds.
—David Szondy, New Atlas, 10 Mar. 2025
By 2020, the design brief had morphed through a 12-rotor three-person contender called the Seraph to a tilt-rotor people carrier concept dubbed the VA-1X – which the company's Chief Engineer detailed in an interview shortly after the reveal.
—Paul Ridden, New Atlas, 19 July 2024
Abe has reaffirmed Noda’s plan to buy 42 F-35 fighters and has announced his intention to purchase 17 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and 52 amphibious assault vehicles.
—Michael Auslin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2016
Meanwhile, Boeing has built the V-22 Osprey that uses tilt-rotors to achieve higher flight speeds, though that is bulky and designed for air combat.
—Umar Shakir, The Verge, 15 May 2024
House investigators have called on Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to explain problems with the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and what the Pentagon is doing to ensure its safety following a series of crashes that have claimed dozens of service members’ lives.
—Doug Cameron, WSJ, 21 Dec. 2023
In addition, the aircraft sports 30 tilt-rotors and can fly at an elevation of 10,000 feet.
—Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 18 Oct. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Tilt-rotor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tilt-rotor. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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