by Douglas Black

Created on: September 09, 2008

Humans are by nature explorers, seeking to extend ourselves beyond what we can see with the naked eye. In the beginning only birds were able to grace the crystal blue skies overhead, but this temporary limitation was only a matter of time and science. Flight has long captivated scientists and inventors alike, whether it's a person traversing the skies in lawn chair tethered by hundreds of helium filled balloons, or one of many steel behemoths that are capable of carrying massive payloads across great distances, man has always wanted to fly!

The plane is one of many unique inventions that allowed us to soar high above the clouds. Interestingly enough the very first attempts to reproduce what came natural to birds of flight were based primarily upon air and how to harness it to promote flight. A plane was one of the first products of science and engineering that was able to produce simple but effective lift. To better understand how a plane works we must also dispel the basic principles of flight.

What is lift?

Lift is the force that purports flight and prevents a plane from spiraling downward to the ground below. To understand the aerodynamic force of lift it is best to set aside normal logic of gravity and inertia, although these properties also play a vital role in flight. Lift can be described as an invisible hand that pushes underneath the wings of a plane, which is controlled by the amount of airflow above and beneath a wing.

There are some complex mathematical equations that can fully explain the equation of lift versus the opposing force drag, but for the sake of my article I will stick to the fundamentals.

Almost any craft that can fly requires lift to perpetuate flight, but what some may not be aware is the most important ingredient; propulsion. Gliders and other non-powered flying machines require something to create lift, which essentially is wind and gravity. However planes require a propulsion system like a propeller or jet engine to ensure fight is established and maintained.

To create lift you must realize shape is very important and if you look closely at a plane wing you will see that most planes utilize an airfoil shape. The front of the wing is thick and rounded, and the end is thin and tapered and in most designs they have flaps that are used to control the plane. As air passes below and above a pressure is generated that is known as lift.

Propulsion (thrust) explained:

The next component that a plane utilizes is thrust, which is equally important

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