what the heck is lift?

Dudley,

As usual, excellent post - I totally agree.

Hilton

The distinction is really a thought convenience to help us talk about
what is going on and not a real physical difference. Lift is really
drag directed upwards.

--

Roger Long

Roger Long wrote:
The distinction is really a thought convenience to help us talk about
what is going on and not a real physical difference. Lift is really
drag directed upwards.

I have absolutely no idea what you mean. I have never seen lift described
as "drag directed upwards". Please explain.

Hilton

Peter Duniho wrote:

I wrote "straight and level flight" simply because that was the scenario
being discussed in the original post. But any unaccelerated flight means
lift equals weight, and that includes the "fully developed spin" and "steady
sinking mush" Roger described.

It depends on how you define "lift". If every upward pointing force is
lift, you're correct. If however you make a difference between, hmmm,
let's call it "true" lift created by the airfoil and drag that's just
incidentally pointing upwards, then you're not.

Stefan