What increases when an aircraft is climbing?

When an aircraft is climbing, the primary forces at play are lift and drag. As the aircraft ascends, it typically requires an increase in lift to overcome the weight and maintain a positive climb rate. To generate this additional lift, the angle of attack may increase, which consequently heightens the induced drag due to the increased lift being produced.

During a climb, while the aircraft may maintain or slightly increase its speed depending on various factors such as power settings and the climb profile, the focus here is specifically on the relationship between lift and drag. The increased lift is necessary to climb against the force of gravity, and as the angle of attack is adjusted to achieve this, drag also increases.

Understanding this interaction between lift and drag during a climbing phase is crucial for pilots when it comes to performance calculations and ensuring a successful climb while managing fuel efficiency and aircraft health. Hence, the dynamic increase of both lift and drag clearly illustrates the complexities of flight mechanics during a climb.