Interesting question...that can generate tons and tons of pages of info

the lift that makes the plane fly comes from the difference of pressures between the two sides of the wing (up / down) , for more info on this look

http://library.thinkquest.org/3142/lift.htm

the handle that points forward (I imagine you are talking about is the throttle, look at picture in the following link)

http://www.ueet.nasa.gov/StudentSite...sofflight.html