What happens to lift when an aircraft increases its velocity?

When an aircraft increases its velocity, lift increases due to the principles outlined in Bernoulli's equation and the concept of airfoil design. Lift is generated primarily by the difference in air pressure created above and below the wings as air flows over them. As the velocity of the aircraft increases, the relative airflow over the wings also increases. This leads to a greater pressure differential between the upper and lower surfaces of the wings, which produces more lift.

According to the lift equation, which states that lift is proportional to the square of the velocity (L = 1/2 * p * V² * S * Cl, where L is lift, p is air density, V is velocity, S is wing area, and Cl is the lift coefficient), an increase in velocity results in an exponential increase in lift, assuming all other factors remain constant. This relationship is crucial for pilots to understand, as it impacts how they control and maneuver the aircraft during various phases of flight.