PLT241: The Four Forces of Flight
What code PLT241 covers, why the FAA tests it, and how to study The Four Forces of Flight before your checkride.
Recall forces acting on aircraft - drag / gravity / thrust / lift
What this means for your checkride
Four forces act on an airplane in flight: lift opposes weight, and thrust opposes drag. In steady, unaccelerated flight they are in balance, so lift equals weight and thrust equals drag; any imbalance makes the airplane climb, descend, accelerate, or slow.
Every performance and stability topic rests on the four forces, so the FAA tests how they balance and what changes when one of them changes.
In a steady climb, lift does not exceed weight. A component of thrust supports part of the weight, so lift is actually slightly less than in level flight.
Where to study it
A code on your test report is an area of deficiency. An authorized instructor must review it with you and endorse that review before you take the practical test, and the examiner may revisit it during the oral. Study it until you can explain it out loud, not just recognize the answer.