Aircraft flight mechanics

Aircraft flight mechanics is basically how an aircraft is able to stay in the air. This is based on the four forces of flight. These four forces are lift, weight, thrust, and drag.

Lift is the push of air under the wings of the aircraft which makes the aircraft want to rise up.

Weight is the force of gravity pulling the aircraft toward the ground.

Thrust is the force created by the engine pushing the aircraft in the opposite direction of weight.

Drag is the air resistance that pushes against the aircraft's forward motion.

To stay in the air, the lift force needs to be stronger than the weight force. The thrust force needs to be stronger than the drag force. So, when the engine is pushing the aircraft forward, it generates lift as well as thrust. That lift and thrust is what keeps the aircraft in the air!