Certified Flight Instructor - Flight Instructor Airplane Practice Exam

What flight condition is most critical for maintaining altitude during a turn?

1. Bank angle.

2. Throttle setting.

3. Rudder application.

4. Airspeed.

The correct answer is: Bank angle.

Maintaining altitude during a turn is primarily influenced by the bank angle used in the maneuver. When an aircraft enters a turn, it generates a horizontal component of lift, which is necessary for the turn, but this also increases the load factor on the wings. The greater the bank angle, the more lift is required to counteract this load factor and maintain level flight. A steep bank angle requires the pilot to pull back on the yoke or stick to produce sufficient lift to counteract the increased load. If the pilot does not manage the bank angle properly, the aircraft could experience a loss of altitude because the lift vector tilts inward and less lift is directed vertically. This is why, during turns, pilots must also consider the appropriate bank angle to ensure sufficient vertical lift is maintained for altitude adherence. While throttle setting, rudder application, and airspeed do play roles in overall aircraft performance and handling, they are secondary in the context of maintaining altitude specifically during a turn. For instance, throttle can help to increase lift but primarily impacts climb rate or descent more than maintaining altitude in a constant-bank turn. Similarly, while airspeed affects stall speed and maneuverability in turns, controlling the bank angle is the critical factor in ensuring altitude stability. The correct management