There are four basic forces of flight: thrust, drag, lift, and weight. Thrust and drag, and lift and weight operate as opposing forces.

Thrust is the forward force of a plane created by the size and type of engine. There must be enough thrust from the engine to overcome drag and accelerate. The throttle is like the gas pedal on a car: it controls the amount of thrust supplied by the engine. The throttle is located in the cockpit of the airplane on the control panel, which differs from plane to plane.

Drag is the opposing force to the motion of a plane. Drag varies with size and shape of the aircraft. Drag slows the plane down. To overcome drag, the plane must be designed to move through the air with minimal resistance.

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Please send any comments to:
Curator: Tom.Benson@grc.nasa.gov
Responsible Official: Kathy.Zona@grc.nasa.gov