Drone Pilot Practice Exam

In straight and level flight, a UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) maintains a constant altitude, which means that the forces acting on it must be balanced. This balance is primarily between lift and weight. Lift is the aerodynamic force generated by the wings as they interact with the airflow, and weight is the gravitational force acting downward on the UAS. For the UAS to maintain straight and level flight, lift must equal weight. This balance ensures that the UAS neither climbs nor descends, allowing it to hold a stable altitude. If lift were greater than weight, the UAS would ascend, and if lift were less than weight, it would descend. Therefore, during straight and level flight, the correct relationship is that lift equals weight, allowing for a steady flight path.