Definition
The propulsive force produced by an engine and propeller (or jet exhaust) that acts in the direction of flight, pulling or pushing the airplane forward through the air. In a turboprop, forward thrust is generated primarily by the propeller converting engine shaft power into a rearward flow of air, with a small additional contribution from the engine's exhaust gases.
Plain English
The pulling or pushing force from the engine that moves the airplane forward.
Context Anchor
Seen in turboprop engine and propeller discussions, especially when describing whether the propeller is moving the airplane ahead or helping slow it down.
Derivation
"Thrust" comes from Old Norse thrysta, meaning to press or push. "Forward" simply indicates the direction. Together they describe a pushing force directed ahead of the airplane — useful because thrust can also act in other directions (reverse thrust, for example).
Why Pilots Care
Forward thrust is what overcomes drag and allows the airplane to accelerate, climb, and cruise. Understanding how it's produced — and how propeller pitch, RPM, and power settings affect it — is central to managing a turboprop in every phase of flight.
Intuition Check
Forward thrust does not mean the same thing as engine power. It means the actual force from the propeller that moves the airplane forward.
Example Sentence 1
As the pilot advanced the power levers, the propellers bit into the air and produced the forward thrust needed for takeoff.
Example Sentence 2
Advancing the power lever increases forward thrust and allows the aircraft to accelerate during takeoff.