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Instrument Flying Handbook Menu>Aerodynamic
Factors>Review
of Basic Aerodynamics>Newton’s First Law
Newton’s First Law of Motion is the Law
of Inertia, which states that a body in motion will remain in
motion, in a straight line, unless acted upon by an outside
force. Two outside forces are always present on an aircraft
in flight: gravity and drag. Pilots use pitch and thrust controls
to counter these forces to maintain the desired flightpath.
If a pilot reduces power while in straight-and-level flight,
the aircraft will slow. A reduction of lift will cause the aircraft
to begin a descent. [Figure 2-1]
Figure 2-1. Newton’s First Law
of Motion: the Law of Inertia.
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