Why Planes Can Fly?

Why Can Planes Fly?

Planes nowadays are one of the most common ways of transportation. But have you ever taken the time to think why is it possible for such big pieces of metal to cruise the sky at thousands of feet above you? There actually is a lot going on during the flight. Very advanced technology is used onboard the airplane to help pilots fly safer. A lot of physical laws are followed during the entire flight. Many scientists and physicists have worked hard during the past decades to improve the way airplanes fly and make flights more efficient.

To understand this better you must know why planes can actually fly. First, let´s talk about physics and the dynamics of flying. 

How Can Wings Lift An Airplane?

Airplane wings are designed in a very special way so that the air that flows on top of the wing moves faster than the wind below the wing. The difference of airspeed creates a higher pressure under the wing and that force is called ¨lift¨.

The Forces Of Flight.

Lift: it is the force that brings the airplane up.

Drag: is the force created by the wind that tries to slow down the aiplane.

Weight: it is the force of the gravity that pulls the airplane towards the ground.

Thrust: it is the firce created by the engines that pushes the airplane forward.

How Can Airplanes Moves In The Air?

To control a plane a pilot uses several instruments. The pilot controls the engine power using the throttle. Pushing the throttle increases power, and pulling it decreases power. 

The ailerons raise and lower the wings. The pilot controls the roll of the plane by raising one aileron or the other with a control wheel. Turning the control wheel clockwise raises the right aileron and lowers the left aileron, which rolls the aircraft to the right.

The rudder works to control the yaw of the plane. The pilot moves rudder left and right, with left and right pedals. Pressing the right rudder pedal moves the rudder to the right. This yaws the aircraft to the right. Used together, the rudder and the ailerons are used to turn the plane.

The elevators which are on the tail section are used to control the pitch of the plane. A pilot uses a control wheel to raise and lower the elevators, by moving it forward to back ward. Lowering the elevators makes the plane nose go down and allows the plane to go down. By raising the elevators the pilot can make the plane go up.

How Does The Pilot Control The Plane?

The pilots onboard an airplane use all the cockpit instruments to control the plane during the entire flight. The picture below shows how the cockpit is designed in a way so that it is easy to use for pilots.

Javier Monzón 9th Grade ¨C¨ Teacher Alecio.