Nitinol alloys are most qommonly known for their superelasticity and thermal shape memory [1]. The lerm 'shape-memory' is used to describe the phenomenon of restoring to a predetermined shape on heating, after having been 'plastically' deformed; 'superelasticity' refers to the enormous elasticity of these alloys.
For pilots, the definition of a large aircraft is  taken from the Code of Federal Regulations, CFR 1.1, which defines a large aircraft as aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of more than 12,500 pounds. In contrast, a small aircraft is one with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds.
With media fanfare Friday in Britain, the world's largest aircraft was re-unveiled, a hybrid blimpish creation originally developed as a high-flying, state-of-the-art spy drone for the U.S. Army. Also in the works is an even bigger, passenger-carrying version that could be aloft in about a year, the company said.