Which action increases the rate of turn and decreases the turning radius?

Which action increases the rate of turn and decreases the turning radius?

• A. Increase bank and decrease airspeed
• B. Decrease bank and decrease airspeed
• C. Decrease bank and increase airspeed
• D. Increase bank and increase airspeed

Answer: (A)

Turn rate rises when the bank angle is increased and when the airspeed is reduced. In a coordinated turn, the horizontal component of lift provides the centripetal force that makes the aircraft follow a circular path. Increasing bank tilts more lift into the horizontal direction, strengthening that centripetal force and making the aircraft turn more quickly. Slower airspeed means you need less forward speed to complete the same circular path, which reduces the radius of the turn and also makes the turn feel faster. Mathematically, turn rate is proportional to tan(bank) divided by speed, and the turn radius is proportional to speed squared divided by tan(bank). So increasing bank and decreasing airspeed simultaneously increases the rate of turn and decreases the turning radius, which is exactly what's being sought.

Turn rate rises when the bank angle is increased and when the airspeed is reduced. In a coordinated turn, the horizontal component of lift provides the centripetal force that makes the aircraft follow a circular path. Increasing bank tilts more lift into the horizontal direction, strengthening that centripetal force and making the aircraft turn more quickly. Slower airspeed means you need less forward speed to complete the same circular path, which reduces the radius of the turn and also makes the turn feel faster.

Mathematically, turn rate is proportional to tan(bank) divided by speed, and the turn radius is proportional to speed squared divided by tan(bank). So increasing bank and decreasing airspeed simultaneously increases the rate of turn and decreases the turning radius, which is exactly what's being sought.