Flight states.
At any moment, an aircraft is in one of five states. Each state is defined by the relationship between the four forces and what the pilot is commanding.
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Terms
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05
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Level Flight
Constant altitude, airspeed, and heading. Lift equals weight; thrust equals drag. The baseline state.
Climb
The aircraft gains altitude. Requires excess thrust or a trade of airspeed for height.
Descent
The aircraft loses altitude. Can be powered or unpowered; glide ratio determines how far you travel per foot of altitude lost.
Turn
The aircraft changes heading by banking. The lift vector tilts, creating a horizontal component that curves the path.
Stall
The wing exceeds its critical angle of attack. Airflow separates from the upper surface and lift collapses.