The drag force is opposite to the flight path. Something that slows us down is drag, which is the resistance to airflow and consequently slows the progress of an aircraft through the air, arising from disturbing the air as it moves through it, and from the skin friction due to the viscosity or ‘stickiness of the air. This action allows the object to lift up and push forward. This is the upward force required to overcome gravity, being produced by a wing as it moves through the air. The aerofoil shape gives us something called lift. This aerofoil shape helps us overcome weight which is the effect of gravity pulling down on the mass of the aircraft. The wings of birds and planes have what is called an aerofoil shape.
Looking at bird wings and plane shapes the main characteristic is the aerofoil shape. Let’s look at some of the common characteristics of things that fly.
