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Ask an Explainer

Q:

Why can't a plane fly with only one wing?

A:

A plane needs balance to be stable. When it has two wings, it has lift on both sides, and it is pushed straight up into the air. But if you remove one wing, suddenly the plane is out of balance. It would have a huge weight in the middle and lift on only one side, causing the plane to lift unevenly, and stall.

Ask an Explainer
Posted on April 8, 2014 at 4:05 am
Categories:
Flight Dynamics
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