← All explained questions · Supplemental · V — Performance and Ground Reference Maneuvers
During a steep turn (45° or greater bank) at constant altitude, the load factor at 60° bank is
Choices
1.0 G — same as straight-and-level.
Wrong — bank requires extra lift, increasing load factor.
1.5 G.
1.5 G is approximately 48° bank.
✓ 2.0 G — bank angle of 60° doubles the apparent weight on the airplane and the pilot.correct
Load factor in level turn = 1 / cos(bank angle). At 60°: 1 / cos(60°) = 1 / 0.5 = 2.0 G. At 45°: ~1.41 G. At 75°: ~3.86 G. Stall speed scales as √(load factor), so at 60° bank Vs is ~1.41× the 1G value. Steep turns also significantly increase induced drag and require more power to maintain altitude.
3.0 G.
3 G is approximately 70° bank.
Why
Load factor in level turn = 1 / cos(bank angle). At 60°: 1 / cos(60°) = 1 / 0.5 = 2.0 G. At 45°: ~1.41 G. At 75°: ~3.86 G. Stall speed scales as √(load factor), so at 60° bank Vs is ~1.41× the 1G value. Steep turns also significantly increase induced drag and require more power to maintain altitude.
FAA source: PHAK Ch 5; PHAK Chapter 5 — Aerodynamics of Flightbrowse the reference library →
Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question.