During a rapid recovery from a dive, what effect does load factor have on stall speed?

During a rapid recovery from a dive, the load factor, which represents the ratio of the lift force to the weight of the aircraft, increases significantly. When the load factor increases, it increases the effective weight of the aircraft in terms of its aerodynamic performance. As a result, the stall speed of the aircraft also increases.

Stall speed is directly related to the square root of the load factor. The formula for calculating stall speed indicates that as the load factor rises — for instance, during aggressive maneuvers or rapid changes in flight attitude like pulling out of a dive — the speed at which the aircraft can maintain controlled flight without stalling also rises.

This means that a higher load factor necessitates a higher airspeed to produce sufficient lift to avoid stalling, which is why the correct answer is that load factor increases the stall speed during such recovery maneuvers. Understanding this relationship is crucial for pilots to manage their aircraft safely during high-stress flight situations.