How can a pilot control lift during flight?

Pilots control lift primarily by adjusting the angle of attack and airspeed. The angle of attack is the angle between the chord line of the wing and the relative wind. By increasing the angle of attack, up to a certain critical point, lift increases because the airflow over the wings generates a larger pressure difference. However, if the angle of attack becomes too high, it can lead to a stall, where lift dramatically decreases.

Airspeed is another critical factor in generating lift. According to Bernoulli's principle, faster airflow over the wing creates lower pressure above the wing, which contributes to lift. Therefore, by combining adjustments in both angle of attack and airspeed, a pilot can effectively manage lift to meet the demands of the flight, whether climbing, cruising, or descending.

While altering engine thrust can impact climb rate or descent rate, it does not directly control lift in the way that angle of attack and airspeed do. Changing altitude doesn't inherently control lift either, as that is more a function of where the aircraft is in relation to the ground rather than a method to adjust lift. Managing fuel weight affects overall aircraft performance but does not provide direct control over lift during a flight.