Explain characteristics, forces, and principles related to the AOA.

Explanation should include reviewing the definition of AOA and the following concepts:

• In level flight, when thrust is increased, the aircraft speeds up and the lift increases.
• The aircraft will start to climb unless the AOA is decreased enough to maintain the relationship between lift and weight.
• Decreasing thrust causes speed to decrease (in level flight), so AOA must increase to maintain level flight.

PLT168

Process/Skill Questions:

• Why is AOA so important to understand?
• Why does the timing of the decrease in AOA need to be coordinated with the increase in thrust and airspeed?
• What happens to an aircraft when AOA is decreased too quickly? Too slowly?