Lift is the aerodynamic force generated by an airfoil or an aircraft wing as a result of the flow of air over its surface. Lift is the force that opposes gravity and enables an aircraft to overcome the force of weight, allowing it to achieve and maintain flight. The lift force acts perpendicular to the relative airflow and is responsible for keeping the aircraft airborne and controlling its altitude. The formula to calculate lift as follows:
Where:
- is the lift force (in newtons or pounds),
- is the lift coefficient (a dimensionless quantity),
- is the air density (in kilograms per cubic meter or slugs per cubic foot),
- is the velocity of the aircraft relative to the air (in meters per second or feet per second),
- is the wing area (in square meters or square feet).