Home
Back
Formula Used:
| From: | To: |
The formula calculates the effective weight of an aircraft during a level turn, which is equal to the lift force multiplied by the cosine of the bank angle. This relationship is derived from the balance of forces acting on the aircraft during a coordinated turn.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: During a level turn, the vertical component of the lift force must balance the weight of the aircraft. The cosine of the bank angle gives the fraction of the lift force that acts vertically to support the aircraft's weight.
Details: Accurate calculation of aircraft weight during turns is crucial for flight safety, performance analysis, and understanding the load factors experienced by both the aircraft structure and its occupants.
Tips: Enter lift force in Newtons and bank angle in radians. Both values must be positive numbers (lift force > 0, bank angle ≥ 0).
Q1: Why does the effective weight decrease during a banked turn?
A: The effective weight decreases because only the vertical component of the lift force supports the aircraft's weight, while the horizontal component provides the centripetal force for the turn.
Q2: What happens to the load factor during a banked turn?
A: The load factor increases with bank angle. At 60 degrees of bank, the load factor becomes 2g, meaning the effective weight doubles.
Q3: How does bank angle affect stall speed?
A: Stall speed increases with bank angle because more lift (and thus more speed) is required to maintain altitude during a turn.
Q4: What is the maximum bank angle for commercial aircraft?
A: Typically 25-30 degrees for passenger comfort, though aircraft are capable of much steeper banks.
Q5: How is this formula used in flight training?
A: Pilots use this relationship to understand how bank angle affects the aircraft's performance and to calculate appropriate airspeeds for turns.