Crossclimb #627 Answer – January 17, 2026

DRONEPLANE

Answer

DRONEPLANE

DRONE
CRONE
Practitioner of witchcraft, in folklore
CRANE
Machine used when building a tall skyscraper
CRANK
Handle rotated to turn something on
PRANK
Play a practical joke on
PLANK
What a pirate will make you walk
PLANE

Combo Clue

Two mechanical constructions that fly.

📖 How I Solved It

I tackled puzzle #627 on a quiet Sunday morning, ready for a challenge. The combo clue 'Two mechanical constructions that fly' had me stumped at first. I mean, I was thinking about drones and planes, but I didn't know how to connect them to any ladder words. I started with 'DRONE' and saw the clear path to 'PLANE,' but then I hit a wall with 'CRONE.' I thought it could be a crossword clue, but I couldn't figure out why it would fit. After a few wrong guesses, like trying to make 'CROWN' work, I finally realized I just needed to relax and take each word step by step. The ladder flowed surprisingly well after that! Once I got to 'CRANK,' I felt like I was flying again, and the combo answer clicked into place. All in all, it was a fun little brain workout!

💡 Tips for This Puzzle

❓ FAQ

The Crossclimb answer for January 17, 2026 (#627) is DRONEPLANE. The complete word ladder is: DRONE → CRONE → CRANE → CRANK → PRANK → PLANK → PLANE.