Why Planes can't fly
Created | Updated Nov 9, 2002
Another article in development
Back in the 1940's, someone came up with a simple explanation of how aircraft wings work. The basic concept was that the shape of an airfoil cause the air moving over it to travel faster, thus creating an area of low pressure. Because the air above the wing was at a lower pressure, it caused the air under the wing to rise, creating lift.
Like all good simple explanations, it was easy to understand and quickly caught, most people now believe that is how aerofoils work. Unfortunately, like most simple explanations, it is wrong. If it were true, planes would not be able to fly upside down. The real explanation of how aerofoils work involves lots of complicated physics which I will try to explain, but not just yet
Back in the 1940's, someone came up with a simple explanation of how aircraft wings work. The basic concept was that the shape of an airfoil cause the air moving over it to travel faster, thus creating an area of low pressure. Because the air above the wing was at a lower pressure, it caused the air under the wing to rise, creating lift.
Like all good simple explanations, it was easy to understand and quickly caught, most people now believe that is how aerofoils work. Unfortunately, like most simple explanations, it is wrong. If it were true, planes would not be able to fly upside down. The real explanation of how aerofoils work involves lots of complicated physics which I will try to explain, but not just yet
