How do aeroplanes fly upside down?

  • Thread starter Himal kharel
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Flying
In summary, the shape of an aeroplane's wing, whether symmetrical or cambered, is not the determining factor in generating lift. Forward speed and angle of attack are the main factors, and stunt planes use symmetrical airfoils to be able to fly upside down without experiencing a significant decrease in lift. The detailed shape of the wing mainly affects drag and stalling speed. NASA has a helpful applet to demonstrate different wing profiles and their effects on lift.
  • #1
Himal kharel
79
0
When a aeroplane is flying due to its shape of aerofoil it gets lift. But it is common to see (as in stunt shows) that they can fly upside down too. When they do so they must experience a "downward" lift and start falling down. but they maintain a constant altitude.
How can they do it?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
I would guess the tail's elevators tilt the plane at an angle so that it doesn't fall as fast.
 
  • #3
All that is needed to generate lift is some amount of forward speed and an angle of attack. Most stunt planes use symmetrical airfoils that have the same shape above and below. For normal (not upside down) flight, a cambered airfoil will produce the same amount of lift but with less drag than a similar symmetrical airfoil. A longer wingspan will also increase the ratio of lift to drag, but there are limitations to making long wings strong enough and the pratical aspect of trying to taxi (drive on the ground) or store an aircraft with a long wing span.

Here's a link to one of many web sites with information about wings:

http://www.avweb.com/news/airman/183261-1.html

This wik article has a reasonable animation of the air flow being diverted downwards by a wing:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lift_(force)
 
Last edited:
  • #4
Also note that the cross section of aerobatic airplane wings are quite symmetrical.
 
  • #5
Read twice, post once...
larrybud said:
Also note that the cross section of aerobatic airplane wings are quite symmetrical.
post #3:
rcgldr said:
Most stunt planes use symmetrical airfoils that have the same shape above and below.
:smile:
 
  • #6
Here is a nice java applet from NASA, where you can try different profiles at different angles of attack. Just play around with the "Angle" silder, and you will see that you can produce lift in both directions (positive and negative):

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/foil3.html
 
  • #7
The detailed shape of the wing has very little to do with generating lift. The basic causes of the lift are the viscosity of the air, the angle of attack, and the "sharp" trailing edge of the wing.

The detailed shape has a large effect on the amount of (unwanted) drag force generated by the wing, and the airspeed at which the wing "stalls" (i.e. the airflow pattern around the wing breaks down and the lift force becomes much smaller, but pretty much any shape of wing will "fly" if the engine has enough power to overcome the drag force and give the plane enough forward speed to prevent stalling.
 

1. How is it possible for an aeroplane to fly upside down?

It is possible for an aeroplane to fly upside down due to the principles of aerodynamics. The wings of an aeroplane are designed in such a way that they can generate lift even when the plane is inverted. The angle of attack and the shape of the wings allow the plane to generate enough lift to counteract the force of gravity and fly upside down.

2. Is it safe for an aeroplane to fly upside down?

Flying an aeroplane upside down is considered safe as long as it is performed by a trained and experienced pilot, and the aircraft is designed and certified for aerobatic maneuvers. Aeroplanes that are not designed for aerobatics are not recommended to be flown upside down as it can put unnecessary stress on the aircraft and compromise its structural integrity.

3. How long can an aeroplane fly upside down?

The duration of an aeroplane flying upside down depends on various factors such as the type of aircraft, its fuel capacity, and the skill of the pilot. In general, most aerobatic planes can fly upside down for a few minutes before needing to return to an upright position. However, some specialized aerobatic planes can perform sustained inverted flight for longer periods.

4. What happens to the passengers and crew when an aeroplane flies upside down?

Passengers and crew may feel disoriented or experience mild discomfort, but they are safe as long as they are properly secured in their seats and the aircraft is under control. Modern aeroplanes are designed and tested to withstand the forces of inverted flight, and the cabin is pressurized to ensure a comfortable environment for passengers and crew.

5. Can commercial airliners fly upside down?

No, commercial airliners are not designed or certified for aerobatic maneuvers, including flying upside down. Attempting to fly a commercial airliner upside down would put the aircraft and its passengers at great risk. Aerobatic maneuvers are only performed by specially designed and trained aerobatic planes, not commercial airliners.

Similar threads

  • Classical Physics
Replies
10
Views
1K
  • Classical Physics
Replies
30
Views
3K
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
14
Views
2K
  • Other Physics Topics
2
Replies
36
Views
4K
  • Classical Physics
Replies
27
Views
819
Replies
23
Views
869
Replies
4
Views
4K
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
16
Views
6K
Back
Top