Definition of "airframe" []

• The structure of an aircraft, such as an airplane, helicopter, or rocket, exclusive of its power plant. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Boeing says it purchased 65 percent of the 787 airframe, which is comparable to the 777."
• "The airframe is the first to be built under an agreement between Sikorsky and Changhe Aircraft."
• "The A330 airframe is based on the A300 airframe, which is older than when the B767 airframe was initially designed."