If thrust is increased while maintaining level flight, the required change is to adjust the angle of attack in which direction?

If thrust is increased while maintaining level flight, the required change is to adjust the angle of attack in which direction?

• A. No change
• B. Decrease angle of attack
• C. Increase angle of attack
• D. Increase bank angle

Answer: (B)

In steady, level flight, lift must balance weight, and lift is tied to both speed and angle of attack. If you increase thrust, the airplane tends to speed up, which raises dynamic pressure and would increase lift. To keep from climbing and to maintain altitude at the new, higher airspeed, you need to reduce lift back down to the aircraft’s weight. The way to reduce lift is to decrease the angle of attack, which lowers the lift coefficient. Increasing bank angle isn’t the right adjustment for keeping level flight with a simple thrust change, since it changes load factor and flight attitude rather than directly balancing lift to weight. So, you decrease the angle of attack.

In steady, level flight, lift must balance weight, and lift is tied to both speed and angle of attack. If you increase thrust, the airplane tends to speed up, which raises dynamic pressure and would increase lift. To keep from climbing and to maintain altitude at the new, higher airspeed, you need to reduce lift back down to the aircraft’s weight. The way to reduce lift is to decrease the angle of attack, which lowers the lift coefficient. Increasing bank angle isn’t the right adjustment for keeping level flight with a simple thrust change, since it changes load factor and flight attitude rather than directly balancing lift to weight. So, you decrease the angle of attack.