滑空

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 滑空(かっくう) is gliding through the air without relying on wingbeats or engine thrust.
• Basic usage: It is used in the examples for a bird flying with spread wings and a model airplane riding the wind.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The flight mode compared with 飛行
  • 飛行(ひこう) broadly means flight through the air. 滑空 focuses on the particular mode of gliding using the air's force on the wings.