In a level turn, increasing the bank angle requires a greater amount of lift, which increases the load factor. This implies that:

In a level turn, increasing the bank angle requires a greater amount of lift, which increases the load factor. This implies that:

• A. bank angle has no effect on lift required
• B. lift required decreases with bank
• C. lift required increases with bank
• D. lift required is independent of bank

Answer: (C)

In a level turn the lift has to do two jobs at once: support the airplane’s weight and provide the inward force to keep the aircraft turning. When you bank, the lift vector tilts away from the vertical, so the vertical component of lift that counters weight is reduced. To keep altitude, the total lift must increase until its vertical component equals weight. Mathematically, L cos φ = W, so L = W / cos φ. As the bank angle φ grows, cos φ decreases, and L increases. The load factor n = L / W = 1 / cos φ also rises with bank. So lift required increases as bank increases. The other choices imply no change, a decrease, or independence, which don’t fit the actual force balance in a banked level turn.

In a level turn the lift has to do two jobs at once: support the airplane’s weight and provide the inward force to keep the aircraft turning. When you bank, the lift vector tilts away from the vertical, so the vertical component of lift that counters weight is reduced. To keep altitude, the total lift must increase until its vertical component equals weight. Mathematically, L cos φ = W, so L = W / cos φ. As the bank angle φ grows, cos φ decreases, and L increases. The load factor n = L / W = 1 / cos φ also rises with bank. So lift required increases as bank increases. The other choices imply no change, a decrease, or independence, which don’t fit the actual force balance in a banked level turn.