airborne vs in the air

airborne

noun
  • Military infantry intended to be transported by air and delivered to the battlefield by parachute or helicopter. 

adj
  • Fitted to an aircraft. 

  • In flight. 

  • Transported by air in an aircraft. 

  • In or carried by the air. 

in the air

prep
  • Unsupported and liable to be turned or taken in flank. 

  • In the surrounding ambience. 

  • Not in a fixed or stable position; unsettled; up in the air. 

  • Prevalent without traceable origin or authority. 

  • In the generally prevailing feeling, idea, atmosphere, or mood. 

How often have the words airborne and in the air occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )