What should a pilot maintain during a thunderstorm encounter?

In the event of a thunderstorm encounter, it is crucial for a pilot to maintain a constant pitch attitude. This is important because maintaining the correct pitch attitude helps to ensure consistent aircraft performance and control even as external conditions are rapidly changing due to turbulence, wind shear, and atmospheric instability typically associated with thunderstorms. By focusing on pitch attitude, the pilot can better manage the aircraft's climb or descent rate, ensuring that the aircraft remains in the safe operating envelope while navigating through potentially hazardous conditions.

If a pilot were to focus solely on maintaining a specific airspeed, altitude, or heading, it might lead to overexertion of the aircraft or could result in unsafe maneuvers due to the erratic nature of the airflow around and within a thunderstorm. Therefore, controlling pitch attitude is a more effective way to maintain safe flight characteristics when faced with the severe weather encountered during a thunderstorm.