An airplane has a mass of 3.41 × 104 kg and takes off under the influence of a constant net force of 2.57 × 104 N. What is the net force that acts on the plane's 78.8-kg pilot?

Answer 1

The acceleration 'a' of the plane equals the acceleration of the pilot, since they travel together.

a = 2.57*10^4/3.41*10^4 = 0.754 m/s^2\ = Fpilot/Mpilot = Fpilot/78.8
Fpilot = 59.4 Newtons

This rather small force causes acceleration along the flight path. The pilot's weight is cancelled by the force exerted on him by the seat cushion.