Private Pilot Private Exam

What force is responsible for making an airplane turn?

1. Gravity

2. The horizontal component of lift

3. Thrust from the engines

4. Drag from the air

The correct answer is: The horizontal component of lift

The horizontal component of lift is indeed the force responsible for making an airplane turn. When an aircraft banks during a turn, the lift vector that is produced by the wings tilts. This creates two components: a vertical component that opposes gravity and a horizontal component that acts towards the center of the turn. It is this horizontal component of lift that generates the necessary centripetal force to change the aircraft's direction, allowing it to turn. Understanding this concept is crucial for pilots, as it highlights the importance of bank angle during turns. If the aircraft is banked properly, the horizontal lift component increases, effectively allowing the pilot to control the radius and rate of the turn.