Share

Forces of Flight on this Page

This indicator shows which forces of flight are covered on this page.

Flight Dynamics

Aircraft and spacecraft fly in totally different environments, so they need different methods to direct their movement and to maintain their orientation.

To provide stability and control, most airplanes use various control surfaces that work on the same principle as a wing, while spacecraft use thrust and spin.

Airplanes are controlled along three axes: the longitudinal axis (front to back), the lateral axis (wingtip to wingtip), and the vertical axis (top to bottom).
Credit: National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

Features & Highlights

Roll, Pitch, Yaw

Roll, Pitch, and Yaw

Controlled Flight

Control Surfaces

Sir Isaac Newton

Newton’s Laws of Motion

Shuttle Attitude

Thrusters and Spinning Wheels

Ask an Explainer

Have a question about How Things Fly? Ask our knowledgeable Explainers your question or browse previous questions and answers.

Distance Challenge

22,465,221 miles flown

How far can your plane fly in 30 days? Start a flight and see!

Take Flight!

Create Your Own Paper Airplane

It's easy. Just choose your airplane body style, select a design and insignia and then print, fly, and share it.

Begin