Why does increased weight require more power in flight?

Increased weight in flight primarily affects the power required for a few reasons related to the aircraft's performance. The correct answer highlights the increase in drag as weight increases. When an aircraft is heavier, it must generate more lift to maintain level flight. This increased lift is typically achieved by adjusting the angle of attack (AoA) of the wings.

As the angle of attack is increased to generate more lift in response to the increased weight, the profile drag also increases due to the altered airflow around the wings. Additionally, the aircraft may need to fly at a higher angle of attack, which increases induced drag. Consequently, more power is needed from the engines to overcome this additional drag and maintain flight at a particular airspeed.

While other options may touch on relevant aspects of flight, the key relationship between increased weight and the need for more power is most directly connected to the increase in drag. This is because drag is a direct function of both lift generation and speed, both of which are affected by weight.