thopter

He swiped a strong hand across the sheen of sweat on his upper lip, then adjusted the 'thopter's environment controls to make the cockpit cooler, the air more moist.

Excerpt: Dune: House Atreides by Brian Herbert 1999

The 'thopter's mechanical wings beat rhythmically like a wasp's.

Excerpt: Dune: House Atreides by Brian Herbert 1999

As the armored 'thopter flew high overhead, the white sun of Arrakis dazzled against unrelenting sands.

Excerpt: Dune: House Atreides by Brian Herbert 1999

But let’s see whether he risks his own neck when his ‘thopter comes across a spice factory threatened by a sandworm.

Matthew Yglesias » Worst Analogy Ever 2007