Which statement best describes how load factor changes with bank angle in a turn?

• A. Load factor increases with bank angle due to centrifugal force.
• B. Load factor decreases with bank angle.
• C. Load factor remains constant regardless of bank angle.
• D. Load factor depends only on altitude, not bank angle.

Answer: (A)

In a coordinated level turn, the lift must do two jobs: balance the aircraft’s weight and provide the horizontal force needed for the turn. The vertical component of lift is L cos(phi) and must equal weight W, while the total lift L increases to accomplish that as bank angle phi grows. This makes the load factor n, defined as L/W, equal to 1/cos(phi). Since cos(phi) decreases as the bank angle increases, the load factor increases with bank angle. For example, at 30° bank, n ≈ 1.15; at 60° bank, n ≈ 2.0. So more bank means more lift is required, raising the load factor. The ideas that load factor decreases, stays the same, or depends only on altitude don’t fit the force balance in a level turn.