How can a plane stay up in the sky?
The wings make lift. Lift holds the plane up.
The engines make thrust. Thrust pushes the plane forward.
The air pushes back on a moving plane. It is called drag.
A pilot steers with parts on the wings and tail.
Ailerons are on the wings.
One goes up and one goes down. The plane rolls.
Elevators are on the tail. Raise them and the plane climbs.
In 1903, the Wright brothers made the first powered flight.
The first flight lasted only 12 seconds. It went 120 feet.
Words to know
- thrust: a push forward
- drag: air pushing back
- ailerons: wing parts
- elevators: tail parts
