← All explained questions · Supplemental · V — Performance and Ground Reference Maneuvers
S-turns across a road in a steady crosswind require the steepest bank angle when the airplane is
Choices
directly upwind (lowest groundspeed).
Upwind = slowest groundspeed = shallowest bank.
✓ directly downwind (highest groundspeed).correct
Bank angle in ground-reference maneuvers is proportional to groundspeed — to maintain a constant radius, faster groundspeed requires steeper bank. Maximum groundspeed occurs directly downwind, where the steepest bank is needed. Minimum bank is directly upwind. Bank varies smoothly throughout the half-S.
crossing the road perpendicular to the wind.
Crossing the road is the symmetry point, not the steepest bank.
in straight-and-level flight.
Straight-and-level isn't an S-turn position.
Why
Bank angle in ground-reference maneuvers is proportional to groundspeed — to maintain a constant radius, faster groundspeed requires steeper bank. Maximum groundspeed occurs directly downwind, where the steepest bank is needed. Minimum bank is directly upwind. Bank varies smoothly throughout the half-S.
FAA source: AFH Ch 6 — Ground Reference Maneuvers; AFH Chapter 6 — Ground Reference Maneuversbrowse the reference library →
Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question.