During an approach to a stall, what effect does an increased load factor have on the airplane?

When an increased load factor is applied to an airplane during an approach to a stall, it causes the airplane to stall at a higher airspeed. The stall speed of an aircraft is influenced by its weight and the load factor. As the load factor increases, such as during turns or maneuvers that require greater G-forces, the effective weight of the airplane increases.

To understand this in more detail, stall speed is the minimum airspeed at which an aircraft can maintain level flight. It is inherently related to the square root of the load factor. As you turn or exert more G-force, the stall speed increases because the aircraft must generate more lift to counteract the additional load. This means that a pilot must maintain a higher airspeed to prevent a stall when the load factor is increased. This principle is critical for safe flight operations, especially in situations that involve high-angle turns or other maneuvers where a greater load factor is unavoidable.

While increased drag, improved maneuverability, and lowered stall speeds may be considerations in flight dynamics, they do not accurately describe the effects of an increased load factor on stall conditions. Understanding the relationship between load factor and stall speed is essential for pilots to ensure safety during flight operations.