If a plane flew horizontal

It would orbit the earth but it wouldn't reach a distance that would qualify as space - overly simplified it would reach a balance between mavity/thrust where the distance between the center of the earth and the plane was the same as it went "forward" at which point it would be orbiting - a plane lacks the thrust to escape earth's mavity well.
 
It really depends what you mean by "horizontal" in terms of frame of reference.

If you mean horizontal as parallel to the ground/zero degrees on the artificial horizon, then the plane will not gain altitude and eventually fly round the planet (or run out of fuel).

If you mean horizontal as a tangent from the (very shallow) circular path the plane is fly around the planet - then the plane would indeed gain altitude. However, practically the aircraft would not go into space (unless it used special - non air breathing engines) as the air would eventually become too thin for the engines to operate correctly.
 
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When planes fly they are opposing the force of mavity towards the centre of the earth, as opposed to a force which acts in the same direction all the time. As it flies it generates a lift force equal to mavity, and hence stays airborne. To take off into space, the plane would need to fly at an upward incline
 
the question the OP is asking is sensible enough if you interpret it right.

to answer you OP, if the craft had sufficient thrust and was capable of operating in thin/no atmosphere (not really a plane anymore) then yes, but from the perspective of an observer on the craft it would feel like you're increasing your attitude because your perception of "straight, flat and level" is all relative to the earth :)

<edit>
jV2ce.jpg


the diagram on the left shows the actual path of flight the OP is describing, (green = earth, blue = flight path) but the one on the right demonstrates what sensation an observer on board the craft would perceive. (not to scale, not proportional etc etc...)
 
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the question the OP is asking is sensible enough if you interpret it right.

to answer you OP, if the craft had sufficient thrust and was capable of operating in thin/no atmosphere (not really a plane anymore) then yes, but from the perspective of an observer on the craft it would feel like you're increasing your attitude because your perception of "straight, flat and level" is all relative to the earth :)

<edit>
jV2ce.jpg


the diagram on the left shows the actual path of flight the OP is describing, (green = earth, blue = flight path) but the one on the right demonstrates what sensation an observer on board the craft would perceive. (not to scale, not proportional etc etc...)

I don't know how old the OP is but on the assumption they are old enough to have left school then it worries me enormously that todays education doesn't equip people to understand that question. I obviously may be completely wrong and the OP is still very young :)
 
the question the OP is asking is sensible enough if you interpret it right.

to answer you OP, if the craft had sufficient thrust and was capable of operating in thin/no atmosphere (not really a plane anymore) then yes, but from the perspective of an observer on the craft it would feel like you're increasing your attitude because your perception of "straight, flat and level" is all relative to the earth :)

<edit>
jV2ce.jpg


the diagram on the left shows the actual path of flight the OP is describing, (green = earth, blue = flight path) but the one on the right demonstrates what sensation an observer on board the craft would perceive. (not to scale, not proportional etc etc...)

This.

I was half way through doing a pic myself to explain.

But I spent to long drawing the globe, and now you've beaten me.

i'll just post my elite map drawing skills instead

bahob.jpg


:p

Was going to include a plane too :(

Bad floods in Italy too I've heard
 
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This.

I was half way through doing a pic myself to explain.

But I spent to long drawing the globe, and now you've beaten me.

i'll just post my elite map drawing skills instead

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/7463/bahob.jpg

:p

Was going to include a plane too :(

Bad floods in Italy too I've heard

impressive drawing skills! :)

I don't know how old the OP is but on the assumption they are old enough to have left school then it worries me enormously that todays education doesn't equip people to understand that question. I obviously may be completely wrong and the OP is still very young :)

Secondary School physics is sickeningly rudimentary for anything but triple-science (this is going back five years - things are probably worse now). back then i was able to achieve >75% in all the non triple-science physics modules without even studying, let alone revising.
 
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I wrote a really long post then realised I was probably going to sound like a snob, so I'll sound like one in lesser words.

No, the question is too simple and the variables to explain many.

:p
 
The plane would only be flying parallel to the ground at the moment the experiment starts. To maintain its position on that line in your picture it would have to begin an upward incline immediately.
 
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