3 ms·

Some of that thrust has to be used to generate lift.

• aidenn0 8y ago
  If the engines are level, then none of the thrust is generating lift; the wings generate the lift (and with it some corresponding drag).
  • marvin 8y ago
    That's just semantics; you can split the drag generated by the wings and fuselage into different components. Of course, 100% of a constant-speed plane's thrust is necessarily used to counter all the other forces acting on the airplane :)
  • astrodust 8y ago
    The engines provide the energy to keep the plane flying. It must overcome two forces: Drag and gravity. The energy requirements are split between those two. If the plane is not generating lift then it's on the ground or about to end up in the ground.