Which forces are balanced by the pilot to achieve a glide?

• A. Thrust and Drag
• B. Drag and Lift
• C. Gravity and Lift
• D. Weight and Thrust

Answer: (C)

In a glide, the aircraft is unpowered and moves along a controlled descent. The key balance is vertical: the lift generated by the wings must match the weight (gravity) pulling downward. When lift equals weight, there’s no vertical acceleration, so the airplane can descend along a steady glide path while still moving forward through the air. The forward motion is then governed by the weight component along the flight path and the drag, since thrust isn’t used to balance drag. So the forces being balanced to achieve the glide are lift and gravity.