FAA Ground School Practice Test

In straight-and-level flight, the lift generated is equal to:

1. Thrust

2. Weight

3. Drag

4. Speed

The correct answer is: Weight

In straight-and-level flight, the aerodynamics of an aircraft require that the forces acting on it are in balance to maintain this flight condition. Specifically, the lift generated by the wings must equal the weight of the aircraft to sustain level flight. Lift is the upward force that opposes weight, which is the gravitational pull on the aircraft. When an aircraft is flying straight and level, it is neither climbing nor descending, indicating that these two forces are equal. Thus, the lift must exactly counteract the weight for the aircraft to maintain a constant altitude. Other choices may involve different aspects of flight dynamics but do not relate to maintaining straight-and-level flight. Thrust is the forward force produced by the engines, which needs to exceed drag for the aircraft to accelerate, while drag is the resistive force acting opposite to the direction of thrust. Speed is a measure of how fast the aircraft is moving but does not directly correlate with the balance of forces in straight and level flight. Understanding this balance is crucial for pilots, as it influences flight operations and aircraft performance.