PPGS Lesson 5.9 | Aerodynamics: Load Factor

[@Springkid27]

Greetings Mike! I have a quick question, I was looking over one of the aviation questions that asks, “ If the airspeed is increased from 110 knots to 150 knots during a level 45° banked turn, the load factor will...” At first I chose the load factor will increase as well as the stall speed. But the correct answer appears to be the load remain the same but the radius turn will increase. But at the above quiz question, I thought when you make a turn your load factor and stall speed will automatically increase? Or is it because the throttle is increased that’s why there’s no change in load factor and stall speed? Or that’s just say I don’t increase the throttle, and I make a turn, then in this case both the load factor and stall will increase? Thank you!

[@larryk130]

Don’t all V speeds change with weight not just Va ? The V speeds on the airspeed indicator are calculated and marked based on max gross weight, they also change with weight of aircraft yet are still marked.

[@EpicAviationEpicFlightAcademy]

Wow, what a fantastic question! Now this shows the quality of the student body at Epic Flight Academy. You all are really paying attention and thinking, way to go! The answer to your question is both yes and no. I have found it helpful to think of V speeds as performance related or structural related. Let me explain. If the V speed is related to any kind of an aerodynamic performance such as maneuvering, stalls, climbs and glides, then yes the V speed changes as weight changes. (Remember with a glide the RATIO stays the same but the speed changes). However if the V speed is related to a structural concern such as flap extension or landing gear extension or Never Exceed speed, then no, the V speed does not change. For the second part of your question, some V speeds change with weight but are still marked on the airspeed indicator, such as V so. These speeds are not a result of acceleration but defined at 1 G and are also given for operating at gross weight. They DO change in flight but will be lower than the speed marked as weight goes down. So the thinking is that this leads to a “Safety Margin”. But yes you are correct, they change with weight and they are still marked. See you next time, Mike