How do aeroplanes stay in the air?

Answer 1

The physics and math get a little more complicated when figuring just how to build a wing to produce the required lift for a particular airframe, and other components are needed to control and stabilize the airplane in flight. The components include the vertical fin, rudder, horizontal stabilizer, and elevator (which can be collectively termed the “tail” of the airplane). But all these elements, like the wing, are airfoils and operate in accordance with these basic principals of pressure and deflection as they move through the air. A propeller is also an airfoil, and it produces “horizontal” lift, pulling the airplane forward. Depending on choice of viewpoint, it can be said the airplane is drawn forward into the vaccuum of a low pressure area created by the spinning airfoil we know as a propeller.(The reaction being thrust.)The wing of an airplane can also be said to induce a draw of the airplane upward into this airfoil created vaccuum depending on how you care to veiw the pressure difference. The key to understanding more completely what an airfoil is doing is the knowledge that air it's self has a degree of mass. The more condensed the air, the more the airfoil (the wing, the prop, or the jet engine), has to work with. This is what restricts airplanes to altitudes that have suffecient air mass. So although airplanes are lifted and held up by pressure difference they ride on air mass. (jet engines are beyond the scope of this article, but they push air through their internal components at very high pressure, creating the required forward motion)


As that giant jetliner rumbles down the runway, faster and faster, until it finally lifts of the ground and into the sky, you’ll be secure in the knowledge that what is lifting the craft into the air are basic laws of physics. The same laws of physics that have lifted our feathered friends into the air for millions of years!

Answer 2

In an extension of jonno's answer,

The airflow over the wing, as it travels in an arc, has to travel further that the airflow under the wing, which travels in a straight line in the same ammount of time. Because of this, the ait over the wing is more stretched out, or less dense. This causes the air under the wing to want to fill the lower pressure pocket created by the wing, so it pushes up on the lower surface of the wing to get to the low pressure area. This "push" on the wing generates the lift to get the aircraft airborne. Hence the aircraft stays up in the air. The engines merely produce the forward motin to keep the air moving over the wing which in turn produces the lift.

Answer 3

airplanes stay in the air by a combination of air pressure over the wings and the thrust of the engines. when a plane runs down the runway faster air flowing under the wing reacts with the slower air over the top of the wing causing lift, the plane stays in the air by the thrust of the engines and away you go. the best way to feel this effect is by putting your hand out of a car, if safe to do so and hold into the air flow and u can feel the pressue. hope that answers your question

Answer 4

Its to do with the shpe of the wings. as the plane travels thru the air, propelled by the engines, air travels over and under the wings. Because of the shape of the wings the air pressure above the wing is less than that underneath, therby providing upward lift. The 'shape' of the wing is controlled by using the flaps on the edge - by adjusting these the pilot is effectively controlling the air pressure and either gives lift or causes the plane to descend.

Answer 5

By utilising best wing design to achieve maximum lift by increasing the velocity of wind over the top of the wing so creating low air pressure below the wing.Obviously air speed whilst flying is dependant on engine capability of an aircraft.Some aircraft can 'glide' easily, smaller aircraft in particular, other rely on forward speed from their engines.

Answer 6

because if they stayed on the ground they would be cars ok they have made cars that turn into planes. if you really want to know about aerodynamics go back to college or watch the discovery channel, its about wind dispersal over the wings and lots of tecnical stuff about velocity and drag

Answer 7

Invisible string like in the Thunder birds but that wasn't so invisible

Answer 8

You can read about it on Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeroplane

Answer 9

They have a rope tied on to the moon

Answer 10

pixies fly under the wings and hedgehogs pedal in the luggage bit to make it go quicker.