Flights

Flight is the act of moving through the air and, in architecture, the series of steps between two landings in a staircase. In aviation, a flight denotes a journey of an aircraft from departure to arrival, which may be scheduled, chartered, domestic, or international. Flights are conducted under regulated airspace and controlled by air traffic control, with safety standards set by national and international authorities.

The history of flight includes early balloon experiments in the 18th century, culminating in the first human-carrying hot-air balloon flights in 1783. Powered, controlled flight was achieved by the Wright brothers in 1903, which enabled rapid development of airplanes, the introduction of jet propulsion after World War II, and the expansion of commercial aviation, air cargo, and military aviation.

Flight relies on four basic forces: lift, weight, thrust, and drag. Lift, mainly produced by wings, counters weight; thrust propels the aircraft forward, countering drag; stable flight results from balancing these forces and using control surfaces. Aircraft are categorized as fixed-wing airplanes, rotorcraft (such as helicopters), and lighter-than-air craft (balloons and airships).

Operations involve airports, air traffic control, navigation systems, meteorology, and safety procedures. Regulatory bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization and national agencies establish safety, security, and environmental standards. Aviation has broad economic and social impacts, enabling international travel, trade, and emergency response, while presenting ongoing challenges related to fuel use, emissions, and noise.