One of the main functions of flaps during approach and landing is to

• A. Increase the angle of descent without increasing airspeed
• B. Increase maximum airspeed
• C. Decrease lift at low speeds
• D. Increase drag at high speeds

Answer: (C)

Flaps are used to increase the wing’s lift at lower speeds. By increasing camber and effective wing area, they raise the lift coefficient so the airplane can fly slower without stalling. This is crucial on approach and landing, because you want a controllable, stable descent at a speed low enough for a safe landing. The added drag from extended flaps also helps slow the aircraft and lets you manage the descent angle without speeding up. So the key idea is that flaps enable higher lift at low speeds (with more drag to assist speed control and descent), rather than reducing lift.