A sailplane pilot can differentiate between a spin and a spiral dive because in a spiral dive, what happens to the G loads?

• A. The G loads increase
• B. The G loads decrease
• C. The G loads remain the same
• D. The G loads become negative

Answer: (A)

In a sailplane, the load factor (G-load) is how much lift the wings must produce compared with the airplane’s weight. When you bank to turn, the lift must provide the centripetal force to keep the turn going. In a spiral dive you are in a banked, descending turn, and as the bank angle increases (or speed rises), the aircraft needs more lift to both support weight and keep the tighter turn rolling. That extra lift means a higher load factor, so the G-load increases.

That’s why this scenario is distinguished from others: increasing bank and speed in a spiral dive raise the required lift, not keep it the same, and not go negative.