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Load Factor

The load factor in aviation measures the stress on an aircraft during maneuvers, defined as the ratio of total lift to aircraft weight. It varies with bank angle, increasing with sharper turns, which raises stall speed and structural stress on the aircraft. Understanding load factor is crucial for safe flight operations, particularly in turns and high-stress situations.

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15 views2 pages

Load Factor

The load factor in aviation measures the stress on an aircraft during maneuvers, defined as the ratio of total lift to aircraft weight. It varies with bank angle, increasing with sharper turns, which raises stall speed and structural stress on the aircraft. Understanding load factor is crucial for safe flight operations, particularly in turns and high-stress situations.

Uploaded by

m.abuzuqayah
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The load factor is a term used in aviation to describe the amount of stress or force exerted

on an aircraft due to its motion, particularly during maneuvers such as turns. It’s the ratio of
.total lift to the aircraft’s weight

:Definition

Load Factor (n)=Total LiftAircraft Weight\text{Load Factor (n)} = \frac{\text{Total Lift}}{\


text{Aircraft Weight}}

:Where

.Total Lift is the total lift force produced by the wings 

Aircraft Weight is the weight of the aircraft, which is the force pulling the aircraft 
.downward due to gravity

?What Does Load Factor Mean

G means the aircraft is experiencing its normal weight (1x the weight of the 1 
.plane)

More than 1 G (e.g., 2 Gs, 3 Gs) means the aircraft is experiencing more force than 
.its own weight, which happens in turns or when pulling up (like a rollercoaster)

Less than 1 G means the aircraft is experiencing less than its normal weight, such as 
.in a negative G maneuver

:Load Factor in Turns

When you make a turn, the wings have to produce extra lift to maintain altitude, because
the lift vector is tilted. The steeper the turn, the more extra lift is required, and the load
.factor increases

:For example

.In a level turn, the load factor increases as the bank angle increases 

.At 0° bank (level flight), load factor = 1 G o

.At 30° bank, load factor = 1.15 Gs o

.At 60° bank, load factor = 2 Gs o

.At 90° bank, load factor = infinite (it’s basically an aerial stall at this point!) o
?Why Does Load Factor Matter

Stall Speed Increases: The stall speed increases with the load factor, meaning in a .1
.steep turn, you need to fly faster to avoid stalling

If the stall speed is 60 knots in level flight, at a 2 G load factor (60° bank), o
.the stall speed will be about 84.9 knots

Aircraft Stress: High load factors (especially above 2 Gs) increase the structural .2
stress on the aircraft, which limits the maneuverability of the plane and can lead to
.damage if pushed too far

:Summary of Load Factor

.Load factor = 1 G: Normal level flight .1

.Load factor > 1 G: More lift is needed (in turns, pulling up, etc.) .2

Increases with bank angle: As you increase your bank angle, the load factor .3
.increases, requiring more lift and increasing stall speed

Would you like to see more detailed examples of how load factor affects your flight, or
?discuss it in more depth

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