flyby

See also: fly by and fly-by

English

Alternative forms

• fly-by

Etymology

fly +‎ by

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈflaɪˌbaɪ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪbaɪ

Noun

flyby (plural flybys)

1. A flight past a celestial object in order to make observations.

   The upcoming flyby of Halley's comet is expected to provide new information on the nature of the comet.

   • 2010, BioWare, Mass Effect 2 (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Maisuth, Ondeste System:

     Farthest from the dim red dwarf Ondeste, the ice dwarf Maisuth has attracted no interest beyond a cursory flyby by automated probe in 1874. No significant resources were noted.

2. (US) A low-level ceremonial flight, typically in connection with an airshow or a military parade.

   Synonyms: (UK) flypast, (US) flyover

   • 1986, Jim Cash, Jack Epps Jr., Top Gun (motion picture), spoken by Air Boss Johnson:

     Two of your snot-nose jockeys did a fly-by on my tower at over 400 knots!

3. (figurative) A brief visit.
4. (nautical) A sailby performed by a hydrofoil vessel while hydrofoiling.

Derived terms

• flyby anomaly
• post-flyby

 

Related terms

• driveby
• run by
• sailby

 

Translations

flight past celestial object

• Finnish: ohilento
• French: survol (fr) m
• German: Vorbeiflug m
• Italian: volo ravvicinato m, sorvolo (it) m, passaggio ravvicinato
• Malay: lintas terbang
• Norwegian: passering
• Russian: пролёт (ru) m (proljót)
• Spanish: sobrevolar (es)
• Turkish: yanından geçme m

ceremonial low-level flight

• Finnish: ylilento (fi)
• German: Tiefflug (de) m
• Italian: sorvolo (it) m
• Russian: пролёт (ru) m (proljót)
• Spanish: sobrevuelo (es) m
• Turkish: alçaktan uçuş

See also

• fly-through