Eli5: How can something as heavy as a aeroplane can lift and even more interesting how can it maintain a certain height for very long time above the air?

Question

Also if someone says increase engine power doesn’t that increase planes weight which means you need more engine power and it goes into a infinite loop

In: 0

Answer 1

Scientists studied birds and then tried to recreate flight themselves. Through years of experiments they figured out that certain shapes of wings generate lift at certain speeds. It’s evolved to being able to control a 70,000kg fully loaded plane by manipulating each surface of the plane. The rudder, ailerons, flaps, trim etc are all control surfaces that alter the airflow. The engines keep the plane at a minimum speed that allows the wings to generate lift to keep the plane airborne.

Planes have a stall angle and speed. When the plane reaches a certain angle, at a certain speed, it will suddenly lose lift and plummet to the ground like a boomerang. Modern planes have safety features that will try auto correct the plane before it stalls (loses lift).

Because of the power of jet engines, plane can travel at higher altitude where there is less air resistance. A jumbo jet flying at 2000 feet burns through fuel much faster then one flying at 35,000 feet.