Which statement best defines a high performance aircraft?

• A. An aircraft equipped with more than two engines.
• B. A light trainer aircraft with under 100 horsepower.
• C. An aircraft with an engine greater than 200 horsepower.
• D. An aircraft designed for rotary-wing operations.

Answer: (C)

High-performance airplanes are defined by engine power, not by the number of engines or other features. In pilot certification terms, an airplane with more than 200 horsepower is considered high-performance. This horsepower threshold triggers the requirement for a specific endorsement and signals a broader performance envelope a pilot must be prepared to handle. So, an aircraft with an engine greater than 200 horsepower best matches the definition. The other statements don’t fit: having more than two engines isn’t the official criterion, a light trainer with under 100 horsepower falls below the threshold, and rotary-wing aircraft are a different category from fixed-wing high-performance airplanes.