How do airplanes fly upside down? Where does the lift come from?

Question

Surely the angle of the wings would send it straight down.

Answer 1

if the plane was flying with the nose level, then it would end up precisely as you described it. fortunately EVERY wing has a certain ammount of lift when flipped upside down. the Cy coeficient of the lift is not that high, but zou can achieve a higher total lift by having a bigger angle of attack. this means that the plane flying upside down is pushing the nose upwards /relative to earth, i.e. few degrees above the horizon. this allows the wing to produce lift whose vector is pointed away from the surface.

Answer 2

Movement of the control surfaces is the answer. Elevator causes the aircraft to pitch up or pitch down. Flying inverted is achieved by forcing the nose of the aircraft to pitch skyward (normally down). The mainplane angle of incidence can then create lift.

Purpose built aerobatic airframes are built with a mainplain that has the same profile on both upper and lower surfaces, thereby creating the same value of lift whether in "normal flight" or inverted.

EDIT. THANK YOU FOR THE THUMBS DOWN.

"ANGLE OF INCIDENCE" IS THE THE SAME THING AS THE LAYMAN'S TERM "ANGLE OF ATTACK", ie the angle of the leading edge of the mainplain with respect to the airflow. It's only my livelihood, what do I know?

Answer 3

the wind coming from the front in both cases would mean the "lift" is acting downwards so the pilot would push the stick forwards as if to dive (normally ) but will actually be starting to climb or at least maintain height

Answer 4

cherokee you beat me to it.

Give him 10 points!

Answer 5

Almost any airplane that is meant to fly upside down has symmetrical wings.  This means the basic shape of the wing is the same no matter which way is up at the time.

Symmetrical wings means the airplane always has to keep a higher angle of attack to produce lift, but it doesn't matter if this is done right side up or upside down.

EDIT:  I kept this answer simple.  See Cherokee's answer below for a very complete and accurate description.

Answer 6

Angle of attack. Forward stick.