In a spiral dive, the load factor on the aircraft tends to do what?

• A. Increase
• B. Decrease
• C. Stay the same
• D. Become zero

Answer: (A)

Load factor is the lift produced by the wings divided by the weight of the airplane. In a spiral dive you’re in a steep, constant banked turn while descending rapidly. To follow the curved path, the airplane needs centripetal force toward the turn center, and the lift from the wings is what supplies that force. As you increase the bank angle, more of the lift must act toward the center of the turn, so the required lift rises. At the same time, the dive speed increases, which boosts lift because dynamic pressure is higher. With weight remaining roughly constant, the lift-to-weight ratio increases. So the load factor tends to increase in a spiral dive.