Explain · analogy · Like I'm five version
How planes stay in the air in terms of a skimming stone
Did you know that a big heavy plane stays up in the sky just like a little stone skipping across a pond?
When a stone hits the water really fast, it bounces off the top because the water pushes it back up. A plane does the same thing with the air. Its wings are shaped so that as they move forward, they push the air down. Because the air gets pushed down, it pushes the wings back up, which keeps the plane flying steady and high.
If the plane goes too slow, it stops pushing the air down hard enough and starts to sink, just like a stone that loses its speed and splashes into the deep water. The engines work like a strong throw from your arm, keeping the plane moving fast enough to keep bouncing on the invisible air. It is like riding a giant metal bicycle that never has to touch the ground until it is time for tea.
Pilots have to keep the speed just right so the plane stays on top of the air instead of falling through it. If they slow down too much, they have to point the nose down to pick up more speed, which is a bit like skimming a stone downwards instead of across. It is clever, fast, and very bouncy, provided you have enough space to fly without hitting a giant, invisible puddle.
Where the analogy breaks downA stone eventually stops and sinks because of gravity and friction, but a plane has engines that keep it moving forward for hours.