← All explained questions · Supplemental · V — Performance and Ground Reference Maneuvers
An airplane in a 60-degree banked level turn experiences a load factor of approximately 2.0 G. To maintain altitude in this turn, lift must equal
Choices
the same as in level flight (1 G).
Level flight is 1 G; banked level requires more lift.
✓ twice the airplane's weight.correct
lift must support both weight AND counter the centripetal acceleration. In a level turn, lift must equal weight × load factor. At 60° bank, load factor = 1/cos(60°) = 2.0, so lift must be 2× the airplane's weight. Because lift increases as AoA increases, the pilot must add power and back-pressure simultaneously to maintain altitude.
half the airplane's weight.
Reversed — bank requires MORE lift, not less.
the airplane's weight times the cosine of the bank angle.
Cosine relationship is inverted — load factor = 1/cos(bank), so lift × cos(bank) wouldn't equal weight.
Why
lift must support both weight AND counter the centripetal acceleration. In a level turn, lift must equal weight × load factor. At 60° bank, load factor = 1/cos(60°) = 2.0, so lift must be 2× the airplane's weight. Because lift increases as AoA increases, the pilot must add power and back-pressure simultaneously to maintain altitude.
FAA source: PHAK Ch 5browse the reference library →
Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question.