As the bank angle of an aircraft increases, what happens to the stall speed?

As the bank angle of an aircraft increases, the stall speed increases due to the need for higher lift to counteract the increased load factor during a turn. When an aircraft is banked, the lift vector is tilted, and a portion of the lift is used to counteract the weight of the aircraft while the balance of the lift acts to turn the aircraft. As the angle of bank increases, the load factor increases, which translates to the aircraft needing to generate more lift to maintain level flight.

The relationship between load factor and stall speed is critical. The stall speed is the minimum speed at which an aircraft can maintain level flight. The stall speed can be mathematically related to the load factor with the equation:

Stall Speed = sqrt(Load Factor) x Stall Speed at Level Flight.

With increased load factor due to a greater bank angle, the stall speed also increases since the aircraft is operating closer to its critical angle of attack. This higher stall speed must be considered during flight operations, especially in maneuvers involving steep turns. Understanding this principle is essential for pilots to maintain aircraft control and prevent stalls when flying in various banking conditions.