Ask an Explainer

Airplanes need lift and thrust to move forward through the air. Lift is acceived with specially shaped wings, a shape more curved on the front and top, and like a teardrop at the back. This is called an airfoil, and it has to be facing the right direction to work. The same goes for thrust; the engine has to be pointing the right way, so that the plane goes where we want it to go.

If I plane wanted to reverse direction, it would have to turn all the way around.