What is the term for forward motion along an inclined path caused by gravity, with descent rate controlled by balancing gravity and lift?

• A. Fall
• B. Glide
• C. Stall
• D. Pitch

Answer: (B)

Glide. In a glide, thrust is minimal or zero and the aircraft moves forward while descending along an inclined path because gravity pulls it downward. Lift generated by the wings counters part of the weight perpendicular to that path, so the descent rate is governed by how much lift you produce at the current speed and attitude. By adjusting pitch, you set airspeed and the amount of lift, which changes the glide angle: more lift (up to the optimal range) makes the glide shallower, while less lift makes it steeper. The forward motion isn’t powered; it’s driven by gravity along the incline. The other terms describe different situations: a fall is a free descent with little lift, a stall is a loss of lift due to too high angle of attack, and pitch is the control of the aircraft’s attitude rather than the descent path itself.