Airline Transport Pilot Written Exam Practice Test – Comprehensive Prep 2025

The critical factor affecting stall speeds during turns is the load factor. When an aircraft is in a turn, the load factor increases due to the combination of lift and centrifugal force acting on the wings. This increased load factor requires more lift to maintain level flight, which directly impacts stall speed.

Stall speed is defined as the minimum airspeed at which an aircraft can maintain level flight. As the load factor increases, stall speed also increases because the aircraft must generate more lift to counteract the greater weight created by the increased load. In a level turn, the load factor can increase significantly—depending on the angle of bank—which means that the stall speed will be higher than in straight and level flight.

For example, in a 60-degree bank turn, the load factor can increase to 2G, which effectively doubles the stall speed compared to straight flight. This is why pilots need to be particularly aware of the increased stall speeds during turns and why understanding load factors is crucial for safe aircraft operation.

While thrust, weight, and drag do play roles in overall flight dynamics and performance, they do not have the same direct and significant impact on stall speed during turns as load factor does. The critical relationship between load factor and stall speed is fundamental to understanding aircraft