What does overpower mean in aviation terms?

• A. To use less power than required for the purpose of achieving a slower rate of airspeed change.
• B. To use more movement in the control column than necessary to achieve the desired pitch-and-bank condition.
• C. To use more power than required for the purpose of achieving a faster rate of airspeed change.
• D. Drag due to friction of air moving over the aircraft structure.

Answer: (C)

Overpower means applying more thrust than is needed to achieve the desired rate of airspeed change. When you want to speed up, you increase power; if you use more power than required, the airspeed changes faster than intended. The correct statement captures this idea precisely: using more power than required to produce a faster rate of change in airspeed.

The other descriptions aren’t about power. Using less power than needed describes underpower, not overpower. Excessive movement of the control column refers to overcontrolling the aircraft, not power management. Drag from air friction over the surface describes parasite drag, not how power affects airspeed change.