What is the relationship between load factor and turn performance?

The relationship between load factor and turn performance is critical in understanding how aircraft behave during flight maneuvers like turns. When an aircraft enters a turn, the load factor—the ratio of the lift force to the weight of the aircraft—increases due to the bank angle. This increase in load factor results in a greater amount of lift required to maintain altitude, which directly influences stall speeds.

As the load factor increases, the stall speed of the aircraft also rises. This is because stall speed is proportional to the square root of the load factor. For example, if the load factor doubles, the stall speed increases by a factor of approximately 1.414 (the square root of 2). This means that pilots must be aware of the increased stall speed when performing turns, particularly sharp ones or when operating at higher bank angles.

Higher stall speeds during turns indicate that pilots must maintain a higher speed to avoid stalling the aircraft, which is particularly important in maneuvers that demand precision and safety. Understanding this relationship is vital for pilots as they manage their aircraft performance within safe operational limits, especially during maneuvers that increase load factors such as turns.