What are the four forces that act on an aircraft in flight?

What are the four forces that act on an aircraft in flight?

• A. Lift, weight, thrust, and drag
• B. Gravity, lift, thrust, and drag
• C. Lift, weight, thrust, and gravity
• D. Weight, thrust, lift, and drag

Answer: (A)

The four forces acting on an aircraft in flight are lift, weight, thrust, and drag. Lift is the upward force produced by the wings as air moves over and under them. Weight is the downward pull due to gravity on the aircraft. Thrust is the forward push provided by the engines or propellers. Drag is the backward resistance the air creates against the aircraft’s motion. These forces balance in steady, level flight (lift equals weight and thrust equals drag), and the standard terminology uses weight rather than gravity. So the best answer lists lift, weight, thrust, and drag.

The four forces acting on an aircraft in flight are lift, weight, thrust, and drag. Lift is the upward force produced by the wings as air moves over and under them. Weight is the downward pull due to gravity on the aircraft. Thrust is the forward push provided by the engines or propellers. Drag is the backward resistance the air creates against the aircraft’s motion. These forces balance in steady, level flight (lift equals weight and thrust equals drag), and the standard terminology uses weight rather than gravity. So the best answer lists lift, weight, thrust, and drag.