How an aeroplane stays up

Why a heavy aeroplane stays in the air: the wing makes lift, the engine makes thrust, and four forces balance. You also see what a stall really is, and why it has nothing to do with the engine.

What you learn

• Name the four forces and what each one does
• Explain why a wing only lifts while it moves
• Describe how the propeller pulls the aeroplane along
• Tell what a stall is, in plain words
• Explain why lowering the nose ends a stall

In playlists

• Start here
• Aircraft and systems

Also on

• Video course: Aviation for beginners