How do Aeroplanes fly?

How do Aeroplanes fly?

Have you ever wondered how aeroplanes fly? Like how can those big, majestic machines, which seem so heavy and complex, actually stay up in the sky? It is like magic, right?

Well, it is actually a fascinating mix of science and engineering. From the moment the plane speeds down the runway to the second it gracefully soars into the clouds, there is a lot going on to make it all possible. 

Image: A photo of a sleek passenger plane on the runway ready for takeoff.

The Basics

To make a plane fly, it needs to handle four main forces. Think of these forces as a sort of balancing act that keeps the plane in the sky. 

Lift

This is the force that makes the plane rise into the sky. Imagine you are holding a paper aeroplane. When you throw it, it glides upwards for a moment before coming down. That upward push you feel is similar to lift.

For a real aeroplane, lift comes from the wings. They are designed with a special shape called an airfoil, which helps push the plane up when it moves fast enough. The air pressure is lower above the wing and higher below it, creating that lift force.

Thrust

This is the force that moves the plane forward. It is like pushing a toy car to make it roll. For planes, thrust is produced by the engines. These engines either have jet engines or propellers. 

Jet engines push air backwards to create a forward-moving force while propellers spin around and pull the plane forward. Without thrust, the plane wouldn’t have the speed it needs to generate lift.

Drag

Think of drag as the resistance that tries to slow the plane down, kind of like trying to run through water. As the plane moves through the air, it encounters resistance, which is what we call drag. This force works against the plane’s forward motion.

To help reduce drag and make it easier to move through the air, planes are built with smooth, streamlined shapes. This design allows air to flow around the plane more easily, making the flight more efficient and helping the plane glide through the sky with less effort.

Gravity

This is the force that pulls everything toward the Earth. Gravity is always trying to bring the plane down, so the plane has to work hard to stay up. To do this, the lift needs to be stronger than gravity. If lift is greater than gravity, the plane stays in the air. If not, it will start to descend.

Imagine flying as a balancing act. The aeroplane has to have enough lift to overcome gravity, enough thrust to fight against drag, and a streamlined shape to minimise resistance. It is all about balancing these four forces just right to make sure the plane takes off, stays in the air, and lands safely.

How it Works

When a plane takes off, it speeds up on the runway until it generates enough lift to rise into the sky. Once airborne, the pilots adjust the engines and wings to control the plane’s altitude and direction.

Climbing and cruising - After takeoff, the plane climbs to its cruising altitude. At this point, it levels off and flies steadily.

Landing - When it is time to land, the pilots gradually reduce thrust and adjust the wings to decrease lift. The plane descends slowly until it touches down safely on the runway and halts.