Load Factor Bank Angle Calculator
Computes load factor (g) in level turn from bank angle in degrees as the aircraft maintains altitude during typical maneuver or training.
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Load factor in a level turn: n = 1 / cos(φ)
Hold a coordinated level turn and the load factor comes down to one thing: the bank angle φ. n = 1 / cos(φ). Bank to 30° and you get n = 1.15 g. At 45° it's 1.41 g, and by 60° you're at 2 g, where the pilot feels twice their own weight pressing into the seat. Push toward 90° and n runs off to infinity, which is the reason a true level turn at 90° of bank can't happen. For reference, the Cessna 172 is certified to +3.8 g in the utility category; a Lockheed Martin F-16 holds 9 g through combat maneuvers. There's a catch on the low end too. Stall speed climbs right along with load factor, Vs_turn = Vs · √n, so at 60° of bank your stall speed jumps by √2 ≈ 1.41. That matters a lot when you're cranking it around in the pattern.
Applications
Aerobatic flight (loops, barrel rolls), military sustained-turn rate analysis, dogfight tactics around corner velocity, aircraft structural certification, and pilot G-tolerance training, where G-LOC kicks in around 5 g without an anti-G suit.
FAQ
Does load factor depend on aircraft speed or weight? No. In a coordinated level turn it comes only from the bank angle. Speed and weight change the turn radius and your stall margin, but the n value stays the same.
Why does stall speed rise in a turn? The wing now has to make n times the weight in lift. Because lift scales with V², the slowest speed you can hold goes up by √n.
What is corner velocity? It's the slowest speed at which an aircraft can still pull its structural g-limit. Fly it and you get the tightest sustained turn radius the airframe will take without being overstressed.
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The results provided by this tool are for general informational and educational purposes only and do not constitute professional, financial, medical, legal, tax or accounting advice. Always confirm important decisions with a qualified professional and official sources.