What happens to the stall speed as the load factor increases?

As the load factor increases, the stall speed also increases. This is due to the physics of flight and how lift works in relation to weight and load factor. The stall speed is the minimum airspeed at which an aircraft can maintain level flight without stalling. When the load factor rises, typically during maneuvers such as turns or during high bank angles, the aircraft experiences an increased weight felt by the wings due to the additional lift required to maintain altitude.

In technical terms, stall speed is proportional to the square root of the load factor. When the load factor increases, more lift is required from the wings to counteract this additional 'effective weight.' Consequently, to produce the necessary lift, the aircraft must fly at a higher speed. Therefore, as the load factor increases, the stall speed increases as well, making option C the accurate choice. Understanding this relationship is critical for safe aircraft operation, especially during maneuvers that increase load factors.