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To hold a constant radius while turning around a point, where in the turn should the bank angle be steepest?

Choices

  • Where the groundspeed is highest (the downwind side)correct

    Higher groundspeed leaves less time to complete the arc, so the steepest bank is used where groundspeed is highest.

  • Where the groundspeed is lowest (the upwind side)

    The shallowest bank is used at the lowest groundspeed, not the steepest.

  • The bank should stay constant throughout the turn

    A constant bank in wind produces a changing radius over the ground; the bank must vary.

  • Exactly when crossing the crosswind position

    The steepest bank is set at the highest groundspeed, which is the downwind point.

Why

To keep the radius constant over the ground, the bank is steepest where groundspeed is highest (downwind) and shallowest where it is lowest (upwind); this is why the maneuvers are entered from downwind.

FAA source: Airplane Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-3 Ch. 7 (Drift and Ground Track Control; Constant Radius During Turning Flight)browse the reference library →

Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question.

To hold a constant radius while turning around a point, where in the… · PPL Free Ground School