What force is produced by the aircraft's engine to overcome drag?

Thrust is the force generated by the aircraft's engines that propels it forward and is essential for overcoming drag. When an aircraft moves through the air, it encounters resistance known as drag, which acts opposite to its direction of motion. To maintain forward flight, the engines must produce enough thrust to counteract this drag effectively.

Thrust is created by the engines, whether they are jet engines or propellers, and is necessary for the aircraft to accelerate, climb, or maintain level flight. This propulsion force directly impacts the aircraft's ability to achieve and maintain speed, which is vital for a range of maneuvers and operations during flight. The relationship between thrust, drag, and the aircraft's speed is fundamental to understanding how aircraft operate in the sky.

While weight and lift are crucial forces acting on the aircraft, they do not directly address the challenge of overcoming drag. Weight pulls the aircraft downward due to gravity, while lift counters this weight to keep the aircraft airborne. Therefore, in the context of overcoming drag, thrust is the only force that serves this purpose.