When asked to explain how airplanes fly, you could resort to science.
Or, the truth.
THE REAL REASON AIRPLANES FLY
Scientists and engineers explain flight with Bernoulli, Newton, pressure, vectors and equations. Pilots, however, know better.
Airplanes fly because of four families of elementals: Liftees, Thrustees, Dragees and Torquies.
THE LIFTEES
Liftees live on the wings. As the airplane begins its takeoff roll, they wake up. The faster it goes, the more arrive.
When enough Liftees push upward to overcome the airplane’s weight, it flies. Slow down too much and the Liftees begin jumping off. When enough leave, the airplane stalls.
Pilots therefore try not to annoy them.
THE THRUSTEES
Thrustees live in the engine and push the airplane forward when the pilot advances the throttle. More throttle means harder-working Thrustees.
When the engine quits, the Thrustees stop.
Fortunately, the Liftees do not notice immediately, so the airplane can glide.
THE DRAGEES
Dragees grab anything moving through the air and pull backward. They especially enjoy landing gear, antennas, struts, open windows, flaps, large tires and anything engineers forgot to streamline.
More Thrustees than Dragees: speed increases.
More Dragees: speed decreases.
When evenly matched, the airplane holds speed while the pilot takes credit.
THE TORQUIES
Propeller airplanes also have Torquies.
When the propeller turns one way, they try to turn the airplane the other.
Rudder pedals give the pilot something to do about them.
Student pilots often discover Torquies during takeoff, usually all at once.
SUMMARY
Thrustees push.
Dragees pull back.
Liftees hold you up.
Torquies try to turn you around.
The pilot’s job is to keep the Thrustees working, the Liftees satisfied, the Dragees managed and the Torquies under control.
Everything else is mathematics used by engineers to make flying look more complicated than this.
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