Aeroplane

An aeroplane flying the British skies on 1 September, 1992.

Molly Weasley: "Arthur, is that you?"

Arthur Weasley: "Yes. But I would say that even if I were a Death Eater, dear. Ask the question!"

Molly Weasley: "Oh, honestly…"

Arthur Weasley: "Molly!"

Molly Weasley: "All right, all right… What is your dearest ambition?"

Arthur Weasley: "To find out how aeroplanes stay up."

— Molly and Arthur Weasley check each other's identities during the Second Wizarding War.

An aeroplane is a large Muggle aircraft with wings which is propelled forward by thrust from a jet engine or propeller. It is used by Muggles to transport people and cargo through the air to long-distance, or otherwise inaccessible locations.

On his eleventh birthday in 1991, Dudley Dursley was given a remote control version of one of these as a present, which he soon crashed.

In the evening of 1 September, 1992, Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley passed by an aeroplane while flying an enchanted Ford Anglia to Hogwarts Castle, in Scotland.

It is Arthur Weasley's dearest ambition to find out how aeroplanes fly and stay up.

Behind the scenes

• According to the second W.O.M.B.A.T. on J. K. Rowling's Official Site, the aeroplane may be the only Muggle invention whose effects cannot be duplicated fully by magic.
• In the U.S. editions of the Harry Potter titles, the term "airplane" is used.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance) (Model)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Mentioned only)
• J. K. Rowling's Official Site (Mentioned only)