In steady unaccelerated flight, what does lift equal?

In steady unaccelerated flight, lift must equal the weight of the aircraft to maintain level flight. When an aircraft is in this state, it is neither climbing nor descending, which means that the forces acting on it are balanced.

Lift is generated by the wings and must counteract the force of gravity acting on the aircraft, which is represented by its weight. If lift were greater than weight, the aircraft would climb, and if lift were less than weight, the aircraft would descend. Therefore, in steady unaccelerated flight, the equilibrium condition requires that the lift produced by the wings is equal to the weight of the aircraft.

The other factors listed, such as thrust and drag, are related to the forward motion of the aircraft. Thrust is the force that propels the aircraft forward, produced by engines or propellers, while drag is the aerodynamic resistance that opposes this forward motion. Fuel consumed pertains to the amount of fuel used during flight but does not directly factor into the balance of forces in a steady flight condition.