[EricH]

Originally Posted by vivek16

It's Important because it kindof pulls the plane upwards. It pushes the air downwards and creates lift. ----->\ is a crude diagram. When the arrow (air) hits the wing (backslash), it is forced downward. As long as the forward force is enough to overcome this drag, you will get lift.

-Vivek

Not quite. That's the flat-plate wing. The airfoil makes most of the lift. When the angle of attack is increased from normal, then the effect you describe comes into play.