When you think about it, a huge transportation vehicle, able to carry hundreds of people across the world, seems crazy right?
In reality, it is not all that simple, and you would have to go through rigorous pilot training if you wanted to fly one for yourself.
To fly an airplane legally and safely, you would need to partake in proper training, and achieve a pilot’s license to fly.
To do this, you may need to go to flight school, enroll in a college program, find a flight instructor, and ensure that you are both physically and mentally fit enough to begin your flight training.
How do you fly an airplane?
If you want to learn how to fly a plane, then you will need professional training, and you will also need to know how the plane actually works.
You are able to fly an airplane with a force that is called lift. This force (lift) helps to move the airplane up into the air, whilst the thrust of the engines propels it forward, and helps to generate the lift.
When the thrust of the airplane’s engine is much greater than the force of the drag, created by air resistance, then the airplane will move forwards. With the aircraft moving forwards, this will produce the force of lift.
The lift will need to be greater than the weight of the plane, which moves the airplane upwards and into the air.
Can you fly a plane without training?
Anyone can learn to fly if they want to. However, it does take some training, and you will need to obtain a pilot’s license.
If you want to learn how to fly a basic airplane for pleasure, or become a sport pilot, or even a private pilot, then you will need a flight instructor and flying lessons.
However, these do not have to be extremely costly, as you can pay as you go, or every time you have a lesson with your instructor.
If you want to learn how to fly commercial planes, or to become a professional pilot, then you will have to enroll in a college educational or vocational program, and you may have to study for several years in order to be certified, and to receive your license.
You can also use a flight school, or an aviation training organization (ATO) to learn to fly.
This can either give you the training you need for small, traditional flights with light aircrafts, or the education you need to fly for airlines and business aviation companies.
Whichever types of planes that you want to fly, you will most likely need training and a license.
That being said, according to some federal regulations, you can legally fly a powered ultralight aircraft without a pilot’s license or any training or qualifications.
This type of aircraft is very light at 254 pounds, flies slower than 63 miles per hour, carries a maximum 5 gallons of gas, and only seats one person on board.
How does a plane start?
Some smaller planes are started with an ignition key, however most airline planes will often start with an engine start at the gate, then thrust reversers back the plane away from the gate, and along the taxiways.
Once cleared by air traffic control, the pilot will then need to release the brakes and advance the throttle to increase the engine power, and begin accelerating down the runway, ready for takeoff.
Once the plane gains more speed, and accelerates across the runway, the air will pass faster and faster over the wings, creating the lift that it needs to take off into the air.
Is plane driving easy?
Once you have some knowledge of how a plane works, and the dynamics of flying, actually controlling the plane is not all that difficult.
What is difficult is correctly landing, taking off and being fully aware of all of the other components that you need to take in consideration.
These are, looking out for traffic, communicating with other pilots, or control offices over the radio, navigating your way through the air, dealing with weather, managing your fuel consumption, and having the proper training regarding health, safety and emergency measures.
Also, takeoff and landings are the hardest and most dangerous parts of flying an aircraft. This is because the airplane is closer to the ground, and there is less time to react in the case of an emergency.
For instance, it is easier to make a plane fly, than it is to stop it, so often landing is the hardest part of operating the plane, and will need a lot of practice before you perfect the skill.
In addition to passing all of your tests whilst learning to fly, and being confident actually controlling and driving the machine, you will also need to take your flight training really seriously.
This is because there are a number of knowledge examinations that you will have to participate in, in order to become an FAA certified pilot.
