Engines push(or sometimes pull) the plane forward through the air.
As such, the air moves over the wings.
[The shape of the wings provides lift if air is moving over the wings.
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Engine power can be surprisingly low. A small single engine aircraft that can fit 4 people(under certain conditions) very well may have less than 200hp.
Maintaining altitudes is relatively straight forward, engine keeps providing forward movement, air keeps moving over wings.
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