How should you adjust the pitch to maintain best glide when weight and altitude change?

• A. Drop the nose to the horizon to accelerate
• B. Maintain constant pitch regardless of weight
• C. Hold the pitch that yields the best glide and adjust for weight and altitude
• D. Increase nose-up pitch to maximize airspeed

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that the best glide occurs at the angle of attack (and corresponding airspeed) that gives the maximum lift-to-drag ratio. That optimum speed isn’t fixed—it shifts with weight and air density. So to stay in the best glide, you should hold the pitch that gives your aircraft the best glide at the current weight and altitude, and adjust the pitch as those conditions change. If you get heavier, you’ll need a higher best-glide speed (and slightly different pitch); if you change altitude and density, the indicated speed for best glide changes too, so you adjust to stay on that optimum.

Other approaches that push for a fixed pitch regardless of weight or density won’t keep you at the best glide speed, and attempting to nose up or down to chase speed in a glide typically moves you away from the most efficient L/D condition.