How Planes Fly

There was a time when it was inconceivable for human beings to fly. The general thought was, “If we were meant to fly, God would have given us wings.” However, it turns out that we do have something else that gives us more flight power than the birds—our brains. Thanks to it, we haven’t only conquered the sky, but also the space. But then, have you ever wondered how the large and heavy airplanes we built can fly? They can sustain flights for thousands of miles without falling out of the sky.

Most people don’t think about it because “it’s technology.” Unless, of course, you’re afraid of flying, in which case you probably think about it a lot! If you’ve ever thought about it, wonder no more because here’s a summary of how airplanes are able to have sustained flight. It’s not the full story (you’d need to study engineering for that), but it does give a nice overview of the mechanics involved.

They have powerful engines.

This is the most effective, and probably the most apparent reason for airplane flights. Because planes are very heavy, they aren’t able to fly as flexibly as birds do. Instead, they are designed to move forward very quickly, and that keeps them in the air. This forward motion is made possible by their jet engines. The jet engines also enable them to travel at incredibly high speeds—the more powerful the engine, the faster the plane can go. Some jet engines are as powerful as 95,000 HP. That’s like having 126 Lamborghinis pulling you. No wonder planes can fly!

They have streamlined bodies.

Here’s another reason why planes can fly so effortlessly. Have you ever noticed that most planes are designed the same? They all have a peculiar shape. This is except for stealth planes that are designed to be flatter for more invisibility. The shape of these airplanes makes them able to move more easily through the air. Since they are moving at speeds as high as 600 mph, there’s going to be a whole lot of wind resistance to overcome. The shape of the body effectively ‘cuts’ through the air, making it easier for them to fly.

They use their wings to steer themselves.

We all know that birds use their wings to steer left and right, but did you know that they also use them to ascend and descend? Birds don’t simply fall out of the sky when they want to come down. They flatten their wings and point them downwards. This makes the air flow over their entire bodies, and it pushes them downwards. The same mechanism applies to airplanes.

Besides using the flaps to steer left and right, planes also use their wings, like birds, to ascend and descend. During takeoff, they point the flaps upwards, and as the jet engines push them forward, the air raises them upwards. The reverse mechanism occurs when they want to land. The jets produce less power, reducing airspeed. Simultaneously, the flaps are oriented downwards, which pushes the air over the plane’s body and makes it descend.

While these points won’t earn you a degree as an engineer, you now know how planes can fly. If you want to learn more about planes and how to fly one, you can follow this link to a flight school in Phoenix Arizona: https://www.flyaeroguard.com/locations/phoenix-flight-school/