Plain English Meaning
The basic rules of physics and aerodynamics that explain how an airplane flies and why it behaves the way it does in the air.
Full Definition
The fundamental physical laws and aerodynamic concepts that explain how an airplane generates lift, overcomes drag, maintains controlled flight, and responds to pilot inputs. These principles include the four forces acting on an aircraft (lift, weight, thrust, drag), how airfoils produce lift, how stability and control are achieved, and how the airplane behaves through different flight conditions.