Does airspeed generally increase or decrease while doing a steep turn 360 degrees?

Question

Does airspeed generally increase or decrease while doing a steep turn 360 degrees?

Answer 1

If you're good, it should stay the same.   Usually, the problem will be a decrease in airspeed.

Provided you're training to maintain a constant altitude... here's what happens:  in straight and level flight your horizontal component of lift will be minimal (almost zero).  When you increase the bank angle your lift is being transferred from almost purely vertical to also acting horizontally.  Provided you keep the same power setting and increase the bank angle, your original power setting is controlling both the horizontal and vertical component of lift (you're making the same amount of lift work a lot harder).  When that happens, if you want to maintain altitude, you'll have to pull back on the yoke, increasing the angle of attack- but also decreasing the airspeed (this is most noticable going through 30 degrees of bank).  The correct way to do a steep turn is to maintain the same airspeed.  In order to do this, you'll have to add power through approximately 30 degrees of bank (no certain power application-- it all depends on the type of aircraft flown) to compensate for the added horizontal left vector.  If you add too much power, however, you'll see an increase in airspeed.  So, really, you could see a decrease, increase, or the same airspeed depending on your proficiency in this maneuver.

Answer 2

If it is a level turn, airspeed will decrease due to the increase in angle of attack (and induced drag).

The added angle of attack is required to increase lift which is turning the aircraft as well as supporting it.

Adding power will keep airspeed constant (within reason).

A descending steep turn will usually turn into a spiral dive increasing the airspeed (since angle of attack remains constant-not adding any more drag).

Combining a spiral dive and a steep turn gives you a box canyon turn, which converts the extra airspeed from the spiral dive to more turning power for the plane by increasing the angle of attack.  In this case you keep the airspeed constant by alternatively pulling the stick to reduce it or letting the nose fall to increase it.

Answer 3

i can pull a coordinated 90deg turn in level flight but unfortunately it involves pulling infinite g and the airfame cant take it for long and i do loose speed

Answer 4

that would be decrease, you may have to increase your power to maintain your airspeed

Answer 5

Any change in direction implies expenditure of energy and unless that additional energy is provided there will be a decrease in velocity. Now this loss of energy can be compensated by higher engine thrust or loss of altitude.

So unless you increase the thrust or settle for a loss of altitude there will be a decrease of speed. All theories of physics are applicable to flying.

Answer 6

Hey mindworms your not going to tell me you can't do a coordingated ninety degree banked turn are you?

Answer 7

performing a forced 360 turn with high G load would result in loss of the airspeed unless enough thrust to compensate increased drag would be provided.

thus the roll value is not the only one to solve your problem. you have to state the thrust available.

having the thrust constant, the speed will drop.

having enough thrust /power available and controlable you will be able to fly a coordinated turn at a constant speed even with the nearly 90degrees roll

[obviously the 90 degrees either would not be coordinated /centered/ or level]

john B>

hello :) in fact that is precisely what i am trying to say. you cannot fly the coordinated 90 degrees /bank/ turn without the loss of altitude. in other words either you have to step the pedals up /to assign part of your engine thrust upwards/ which disbalances the flight, or you fly a coordinated / centered/ turn but loose you altitude because you provide no lift to keep you flying. Of course in the actual flyling, when you have to perform a 90 degrees bank turn, you care a S**t about the coordinated turn or potential drop in speed, you simply turn a tight turn, and that is the same i do.

have a nice day :)

90 degrees BANK, not 90 degrees in heading thats what i am talking about.

coordinated 90 deg bank turn is a spiral, not a level turn

draw a picture with vectors. once the lift vector is parallel with the surface, then nothing counters the gravity. that means you are losing altitude.