Certified Flight Instructor - Flight Instructor Airplane Practice Exam

During a rectangular course, when would the aircraft be turned less than 90°?

1. Corners 1 and 4.

2. Corners 1 and 2.

3. Corners 2 and 4.

4. All corners require a 90° turn.

The correct answer is: Corners 1 and 4.

In a rectangular flight course, the turns at various corners are designed to maintain a specific orientation of the aircraft relative to the wind and the intended flight path. At corners 1 and 4, the turns are typically made less than 90 degrees. This is mainly due to the wind's influence and the desired alignment with the intended flight path. For example, when departing from corner 1, the aircraft is often turning into the wind. A less than 90-degree turn helps to prevent excessive drift caused by the wind, allowing for a smoother transition onto the next leg of the rectangular course. Similarly, at corner 4, the aircraft may need to turn away from the wind to correctly align with the final leg back to the starting point. In contrast, the turns at corners 2 and 3 generally require a full 90-degree adjustment to maintain the straight flow of the course as they represent the perpendicularities within the defined path. Therefore, understanding how wind direction and course layout affect turn angles is essential for maintaining control and precision during maneuvers like those in a rectangular course.