← All explained questions · Supplemental · V — Performance and Ground Reference Maneuvers
To minimize ALTITUDE LOSS during a steep turn entry, the pilot should
Choices
reduce power before initiating the bank.
Reducing power loses airspeed and altitude.
✓ smoothly add back-pressure AS the bank is established.correct
not after) and add power proportional to the bank angle to maintain altitude. Steep turns require simultaneous bank + back-pressure + power. As bank angle increases, vertical lift component decreases (lift × cos(bank)), so back-pressure must increase to maintain altitude. Power compensates for the increased induced drag from higher AoA. Adding back-pressure AFTER the bank is set causes altitude loss before recovery.
reduce back-pressure during the turn.
Less back-pressure causes descent at high bank.
let the airplane descend slightly to gain airspeed.
Diving for speed loses altitude (the thing we're trying to maintain).
Why
not after) and add power proportional to the bank angle to maintain altitude. Steep turns require simultaneous bank + back-pressure + power. As bank angle increases, vertical lift component decreases (lift × cos(bank)), so back-pressure must increase to maintain altitude. Power compensates for the increased induced drag from higher AoA. Adding back-pressure AFTER the bank is set causes altitude loss before recovery.
FAA source: AFH Ch 9browse the reference library →
Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question.