If thrust is decreased, the angle of attack should be adjusted in which direction to maintain straight and level flight?

If thrust is decreased, the angle of attack should be adjusted in which direction to maintain straight and level flight?

• A. Increase angle of attack
• B. Decrease angle of attack
• C. Maintain angle of attack
• D. Increase bank angle

Answer: (A)

When an airplane flies straight and level, lift must balance weight. If thrust drops, the airplane tends to slow down, which lowers dynamic pressure and thus lift at the current angle of attack. To compensate for the reduced lift and keep the aircraft from sinking, you raise the angle of attack to increase the lift coefficient. This helps restore lift to match weight at the slower speed, maintaining level flight. Increasing bank angle would cause a turn, which isn’t desired for straight and level flight. Maintaining or decreasing the angle of attack would not provide enough lift to counter the weight at the reduced speed, so they’re not the right actions in this situation.

When an airplane flies straight and level, lift must balance weight. If thrust drops, the airplane tends to slow down, which lowers dynamic pressure and thus lift at the current angle of attack. To compensate for the reduced lift and keep the aircraft from sinking, you raise the angle of attack to increase the lift coefficient. This helps restore lift to match weight at the slower speed, maintaining level flight.

Increasing bank angle would cause a turn, which isn’t desired for straight and level flight. Maintaining or decreasing the angle of attack would not provide enough lift to counter the weight at the reduced speed, so they’re not the right actions in this situation.