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Fighting Gravity To succeed, I have to know my plane inside and out and how best to fly her. Like every pilot, I have to understand the four forces of flight. For all pilots, gravity is the biggest enemy.


Earth’s gravity pulls objects toward the center of Earth. T is constant tug creates a continuous force called weight. I try to travel light, only packing essentials like a tool kit, bottled water, bananas, and a few other snacks. Just packing light won’t keep me in the air,


though. Gravity will always pull my plane down toward the ground. I need an opposing force to push my plane up. I need liſt .


Getting a Lift I get liſt from the way air interacts with my plane’s wings. Each wing is flat on the bottom and curved on the top. As I fly, the front edge of each wing splits the air. Air travels over and under each wing. T e shape and tilt of the wings makes air


moving over them travel faster than the air moving under them. T e faster air on top of the wing puts less pressure on the wing. T e slower air under the wing puts more pressure on the wing. T e higher pressure pushes up on the wing. It creates liſt . To fly, all planes must have enough liſt to overcome the pull of gravity.


LIFT The force that opposes gravity. The shape of my plane’s wings creates lift when I fl y.


THRUST The force that opposes drag. My engine and propeller create the thrust to move my plane forward.


WEIGHT The downward force caused by gravity pulling objects toward the center of Earth. I try to fl y light to limit my weight.


NOVEMBER–DECEMBER 2014 13


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