Page 81 - Never Fly Solo

54 | NEVER FLY SOLO
the pressure of the air passing beneath the wings of an aircraft
is greater than the pressure of the air above the wings, the
plane will become airborne.
In order for it to accelerate and remain airborne, the F-16
must overcome any opposition to lift. This opposition is any
aerodynamic force that resists the forward or upward motion
of the jet and is known as drag. Every flight of every aircraft
is an ongoing battle between the forces of lift and drag. A
skilled pilot is essentially a great general of this battle. He,
along with the flight computers present on modern-day jet
fighters, minimizes drag and maximizes lift according to the
desired path of the jet.
Fighter pilots have to deal with two kinds of drag: induced
drag and parasite drag.
Induced drag is a natural byproduct of lift and is considered
a “good drag,” caused by the shape of the aircraft (wings, fuse-
lage, and so on). While induced drag can be reduced in flight
based on the position of the wings and rudders, it can never be
fully eliminated. In flying, it comes with the territory.
Parasite drag is the opposite. It battles against the good
drag, slowing the aircraft and hampering maneuverability.
Any portion of the aircraft that does not create lift (landing
gear, missiles, or external fuel tanks, for example) creates
parasite drag. Some parasite drag, like the landing gear, is
automatically eliminated once the jet takes flight and the gear
is raised. Other parasite drag, like missiles or external fuel
tanks, must be eliminated when its presence hinders necessary
progress and lifesaving maneuverability.
Managing lift and drag is critical when flying in hostile
skies. When evading missiles or engaging another fighter in
close combat, one of the most critical things fighter pilots