ELI5: How do airplanes fly?

Imagine you have a paper airplane. It flies because of science! Here's how:

Air is all around us, and even though we can't see it, it pushes on things. Airplanes use this push to fly.

• Wings: Airplane wings are a special shape. They're curved on top and flatter on the bottom.
• Airflow: When the airplane moves forward, air flows over and under the wings.
• Faster Air, Less Pressure: Because the top of the wing is curved, the air has to travel farther and faster over the top. Faster air means less air pressure pushing down.
• Slower Air, More Pressure: The air flowing under the wing travels a shorter distance and moves slower. Slower air means more air pressure pushing up.
• Lift: This difference in pressure creates something called lift. The higher pressure under the wing pushes up harder than the lower pressure above the wing pushes down. This upward push is what makes the airplane rise into the sky!

• Engines: The airplane's engines (or propellers) are like powerful fans. They push the plane forward, so the air can flow over the wings and create lift.
• Gravity: Gravity is always pulling the airplane down. The lift has to be stronger than gravity for the airplane to stay in the air.
• Control: The pilot uses flaps on the wings and tail to change the airflow and control the airplane's direction.