Most explanations given for how airplanes fly, or more specifically how airfoils create lift, turn out to be either dead wrong or seriously incomplete. I found the explanation below, by Professor Mike Merrifield, animator Pete McPartlan, and prolific filmmaker Brady Haran, surprisingly interesting and quite clear, despite what turns out to be some inherent complexity.

Granted, not everyone is interested in such details, but if you are, take a look. It runs just 10 minutes:

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