In terms of flight dynamics, what happens when a pilot enters a bank without increasing thrust?

When a pilot enters a bank without increasing thrust, the aircraft will typically descend. This outcome arises because banking demonstrates an increase in the load factor on the wings due to the need to generate sufficient lift to counteract the effects of gravity while turning.

As the airplane banks, the vertical component of lift decreases, which results in a loss of total lift available to counteract the aircraft's weight. Since the pilot is not increasing thrust, the existing thrust does not adequately maintain the required lift to sustain level flight under the new flight conditions. Therefore, without an adjustment in thrust to compensate for the increased load factor in the turn, the aircraft will descend as it is unable to maintain altitude.

While it is possible for an aircraft to maintain altitude during a bank if thrust is appropriately increased, the scenario specifically states that thrust is not increased. Thus, the aircraft is unable to sustain altitude in the bank and will descend.