If airspeed increases during a level turn, what must be done to maintain altitude?

To understand the requirements for maintaining altitude during a level turn when airspeed increases, consider the fundamental principles of aerodynamics. When an aircraft is in a level turn, the lift generated must be equal to the weight of the aircraft to maintain altitude.

As airspeed increases, the lift produced by the wings also increases, assuming the angle of attack remains constant. This excess lift can cause the aircraft to climb unless corrective actions are taken. To maintain altitude in this situation, you can either reduce the angle of attack or increase the angle of bank. When you decrease the angle of attack, you reduce the lift being generated, helping to counteract the excess lift due to the higher airspeed. Increasing the angle of bank alters the load factor on the wings, which effectively increases the amount of lift required to maintain level flight, thus permitting altitude to be held steady.

This reasoning clarifies why maintaining altitude during an increase in airspeed necessitates a change in either the angle of attack or the angle of bank, making adjustments essential for continued effective performance in flight.