What change occurs to an airplane when the angle of attack increases?

When the angle of attack increases, the airflow over the wings changes, which directly affects lift and induced drag. As the angle of attack rises, the lift produced by the wings also increases up to a certain point. However, this increase in lift momentarily leads to a rise in induced drag. Induced drag is a byproduct of lift; therefore, as more lift is generated at higher angles of attack, the induced drag also increases.

This dynamic is rooted in the relationship between lift and drag. As you push the angle of attack beyond typical cruising values, the pressures on the wing surface alter, leading to increased turbulence and a higher drag force opposing the airplane's motion. This is an important concept for pilots as it helps them understand the performance characteristics of their aircraft, especially in terms of maintaining controlled flight without entering a stall.

While changes to thrust or speed could occur under different conditions, they do not directly correlate with the increase in angle of attack like induced drag does.