Uploaded January 2011 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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So how does flying work? Well we need lift! Wings are actually aerofoil shaped- concave at the bottom side, so they have a bigger surface area on the top side than the bottom.
As air flows over the wings, they have more area to travel if they go above so the pressure exerted is divided over a larger area, decreasing the air pressure. Low pressure sucks higher pressure into it and high pressure is drawn to low pressure so they equalize- The low pressure is sucking the wing upwards while High pressure is pushing it upwards also. If these forces can overcome the weight of the creature, they rise eh.
But theres more! Air needs to be flowing over the wings for Lift to be generated, so we need some forward momentum- Thrust! Planes and such will use Propellers, jet engines, rockets etc to propel themselves forward, birds and such just flap their wings, which means that their wings can change shape as they flap. This is why the upward motion is faster, the downward motion should last longer to take full advantage of the aerofoil shape.
Gliding however is achieved by using the Aerofoil wing mechanism to slow down falling enough to allow horizontal movement. To be clear, gliding does not generate lift, soaring does, usually by thermals and such.
Helicoptors and Hot air balloons are irrelevent to this guide!
As for Jets being able to fly upside down? They're freaking Jets! Screw physics! =p But i'd say their jet engine probably gives them an edge.
Who says Physics is boring eh? =p
As always, my methods are not the law, its just my way of doing it as well as a seemingly decent way of showing some of the basics behind the motion itself. My anatomy is also not 100% accurate, i just learn the basic, very generalised shapes and such. As explained in my anatomy video, these things can change even within a species.
Need reference from live animals? youtube.com/playlist?list=6F0A629072D3326A
darkmanethewerewolf.deviantart.com
Proud Partner of the Channel Frederator Network youtube.com/channelFrederator
Follow me:
Twitter: *no longer active*
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bee3001.bsky.social
I also have a Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/bee3001
Annotations complete.
So how does flying work? Well we need lift! Wings are actually aerofoil shaped- concave at the bottom side, so they have a bigger surface area on the top side than the bottom.
As air flows over the wings, they have more area to travel if they go above so the pressure exerted is divided over a larger area, decreasing the air pressure. Low pressure sucks higher pressure into it and high pressure is drawn to low pressure so they equalize- The low pressure is sucking the wing upwards while High pressure is pushing it upwards also. If these forces can overcome the weight of the creature, they rise eh.
But theres more! Air needs to be flowing over the wings for Lift to be generated, so we need some forward momentum- Thrust! Planes and such will use Propellers, jet engines, rockets etc to propel themselves forward, birds and such just flap their wings, which means that their wings can change shape as they flap. This is why the upward motion is faster, the downward motion should last longer to take full advantage of the aerofoil shape.
Gliding however is achieved by using the Aerofoil wing mechanism to slow down falling enough to allow horizontal movement. To be clear, gliding does not generate lift, soaring does, usually by thermals and such.
Helicoptors and Hot air balloons are irrelevent to this guide!
As for Jets being able to fly upside down? They're freaking Jets! Screw physics! =p But i'd say their jet engine probably gives them an edge.
Who says Physics is boring eh? =p
As always, my methods are not the law, its just my way of doing it as well as a seemingly decent way of showing some of the basics behind the motion itself. My anatomy is also not 100% accurate, i just learn the basic, very generalised shapes and such. As explained in my anatomy video, these things can change even within a species.
Need reference from live animals? youtube.com/playlist?list=6F0A629072D3326A
darkmanethewerewolf.deviantart.com
Proud Partner of the Channel Frederator Network youtube.com/channelFrederator
