How airplanes generate lift

[Somerled]

I can't count the number of times it has been explained to me that lift is generated by air going furtherover the top of the wing than the bottom, thus forcing the air moving above the wing to move faster to catch up with the air below the wing, causing lower pressure and thus lift.

God, that explanation bugs me.

[68ZooM]

Lift comes when the air below the airplane wing is pushing up harder than the air above it is pushing down. It is this difference in pressure that enables the plane to fly. Pressure can be reduced on a wing's surface by making the air move over it more quickly. The wings of a plane are curved so that the air moves more quickly over the top of the wing, resulting in an upward push, or lift, on the wing. at least that's how it's always been explained to me

[Somerled]

Lift comes when the air below the airplane wing is pushing up harder than the air above it is pushing down. It is this difference in pressure that enables the plane to fly. Pressure can be reduced on a wing's surface by making the air move over it more quickly. The wings of a plane are curved so that the air moves more quickly over the top of the wing, resulting in an upward push, or lift, on the wing. at least that's how it's always been explained to me

Then why don't airplanes fall to the ground when they are upside down?

[Serenity]

Then why don't airplanes fall to the ground when they are upside down?

They do, without sufficient thrust

[Babalonian]

Then why don't airplanes fall to the ground when they are upside down?

Ever see an inverted Cesna cruising around?...

Many non-performance aircraft are very much aerobaticly incapable.

Also to add, even in the game, almost all aricraft need a good bit of down elevator (while inverted) to keep the nose up and maintain level inverted flight.  This bleeds your E and speed because because the angle of your wings needs to be agressivley angled against your angle of flight, causing the wings to act more like a kite while inverted to generate the necessary lift, and less like a desired aerodynamic lift-inducing wing (can an aero engineer verify my understanding of that, or am I a mile off?).

[Somerled]

Ever see an inverted Cesna cruising around?...

Many non-performance aircraft are very much aerobaticly incapable.

Then how does any aircraft fly upside down?

One better, i offer you a 707 flying upside down

[AAJagerX]

Then how does any aircraft fly upside down?

One better, i offer you a 707 flying upside down
(Image removed from quote.)

Massive amounts of thrust.

As for the 707, it still generates quite alot of thrust but look at the angle of attack he's holding to keep it in the air.  It wouldn't be able to hold that attitude for a very long time.

[68ZooM]

Then why don't airplanes fall to the ground when they are upside down?

turn the engine off see what happens, thrust my friend 

[Shuffler]

The tail is an upside down wing.

[Barrett]

A must read for anyone interested in piloting an aircraft is "Stick and Rudder" by Wolfgang Langewiesche. Written in the 1940's, it's still available in print and adequately explains the 'theory of lift'. The same theory works for sailing vessels as well.

[CAP1]

Then why don't airplanes fall to the ground when they are upside down?

because you counter that lift with the elevator.

[Golfer]

Thrust, Weight and Pressure.

Bernoulli.

That'll get you started.

[Lusche]

magic 

[CAP1]

what kind of magic?

[Babalonian]

gremlins