Which force is responsible for pulling the aircraft downward?

The force responsible for pulling the aircraft downward is weight, which is the force of gravity acting on the aircraft's mass. Weight is a fundamental force that always acts toward the center of the Earth, contributing to the aircraft's overall behavior in flight. As aircraft ascend or descend, the balance between weight and lift determines their altitude.

Lift is the upward force that counteracts weight, allowing an aircraft to rise and stay aloft. Thrust is the forward force produced by the engines, propelling the aircraft through the air, while drag is the resistance that opposes thrust due to air friction. Each of these forces plays a unique role in flight dynamics, but it is weight and gravity that primarily cause the aircraft to be pulled downward. Understanding this relationship is essential in the study of aerodynamics and aircraft performance.