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In a steep turn, the airplane's TURN RADIUS is determined by

Choices

  • bank angle alone.

    Bank alone — speed dramatically affects radius.

  • ✓ true airspeed and bank angle.correct

    Turn radius is set by true airspeed and bank angle: radius = TAS² / (g × tan(bank)). At constant TAS, steeper bank = tighter radius. At constant bank, faster TAS = larger radius. Turn radius formula: r = V² / (g × tan(φ)) where V is TAS, g is gravity, φ is bank angle. Doubling speed quadruples radius (squared). Doubling bank's tangent halves radius. This is why high-speed jets need huge radii and why steep banks tighten the turn dramatically. Useful for collision avoidance and pattern planning.

  • the airplane's weight only.

    Weight cancels out in the turn radius formula.

  • altitude.

    Altitude doesn't directly factor.

Why

Turn radius is set by true airspeed and bank angle: radius = TAS² / (g × tan(bank)). At constant TAS, steeper bank = tighter radius. At constant bank, faster TAS = larger radius. Turn radius formula: r = V² / (g × tan(φ)) where V is TAS, g is gravity, φ is bank angle. Doubling speed quadruples radius (squared). Doubling bank's tangent halves radius. This is why high-speed jets need huge radii and why steep banks tighten the turn dramatically. Useful for collision avoidance and pattern planning.

FAA source: PHAK Ch 5; PHAK Chapter 5 — Aerodynamics of Flightbrowse the reference library →

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Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question. Reviewed by a panel of three CFIs + AI review.

In a steep turn, the airplane's TURN RADIUS is determined by · PPL Free Ground School