Which forces act together during level flight?

In level flight, an aircraft maintains a steady altitude and direction, which requires a balance of forces acting on it. The four fundamental forces at play are weight, lift, thrust, and drag.

Weight is the force acting downwards due to gravity, pulling the aircraft towards the earth. Lift is the force generated by the wings, acting upwards, which counteracts weight. Thrust is produced by the aircraft's engines, propelling it forward, while drag is the resistance experienced by the aircraft as it moves through the air.

For level flight to be maintained, lift must equal weight, and thrust must equal drag. This balance allows the aircraft to fly horizontally without ascending or descending. Therefore, all four forces – weight, lift, thrust, and drag – are essential components that act together to achieve stable and controlled flight in a level attitude.