Χαίρετε, παντες !
I have come to learn that the modern Latin word for airplane, aeróplanum (stress indicated with acute accent mark), is completely Greek in formation, invoking the Greek root “πλαν-,” as a wanderer in the air (much more poetic and appropriate than the Latin “planum” could suggest).
Thus, what would be good word for an airplane pilot, if not merely ὁ ἀεροπλάνων κυβερνήτης ? Perhaps ἀεροπλανιστής ?
In modern greek it is “πιλότος” from pilot… The reverse way. “Αερο-σκάφος” is also a usual name for “airplane”.
Some options could be:
“αεροπλάν-αρχος” like τριήρ-αρχος, “αεροπλαν-άρχης”, like ταγματ-άρχης, “αεροπλαν-ηλάτης” like αρματ-ηλάτης, αμαξ-ηλάτης etc. with “αεροσκαφ-”.
In modern greek the names of some military ranks in the Air Force are “πτέρ-αρχος, σμήν-αρχος, σμην-αγός, σμην-ίας”.
Very neat, thanks for the response. I’ll have to think about these …