Steep Turns
Aim
• To perform a steep level turn, maintaining constant altitude and airspeed.
What?
• A steep turn is a turn with a bank angle of 45°.
The forces in a turn Recap
• When you bank the aircraft with ailerons, the lift force is now tilted.
• Lh will pull the aircraft into the turn.
• However, now, Lv < W so the aircraft will descend.
• The AoA needs to be increased to increase total lift in order to maintain
altitude.
• Airspeed will decrease with increased drag
Stalling Speed
n=L/W
• When in a level steep turn, the wings are producing more lift because of the
higher AoA.
• This increase in lift increases our load factor “n” to 1.4
• This increase in load factor will in turn increase the stalling speed in a turn.
• In a medium turn the Vs turn = 1.18Vs
Steep turn
• With the increased stall speed (66kts) and the decreasing airspeed when
performing steep turns. Increasing the back pressure alone to maintain level
could stall the aircraft.
• Hence, power needs to be applied in order to stop the speed for dropping
when increasing the angle of attack.
Air Exercise
Airmanship
HASELL Checks
• Height - Su cient to recover by a safe height
• Airframe - Flaps up
• Security - No loose articles, harnesses secure
• Engine - Mixture rich, Fuel pump on, T&Ps green
• Location - Not over populated areas and clear of tra c areas
• Lookout - Carry out a 180° to make sure area is clear
HELL checks are a subset of HASELL checks which are carried out between
subsequent stalls.
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Before Entry
• HASELL checks
• Lookout!
• Make sure aircraft is trimmed in S&L
• Select reference point
Entry into a steep turn
BBB
• Bank - While looking outside bank the aircraft 45°. Then neutralise the
ailerons to stop the aircraft rolling further. Con rm bank angle with Arti cial
Horizon.
• Power increase to maintain airspeed after passing 30° bank angle,.
• Balance - Apply enough rudder in direction of turn to keep the ball in the
centre
• Back Pressure - As the aircraft is rolling, apply a steady back pressure on the
control column. Con rm with your VSI or Altimeter that su cient pressure is
being applied. Back pressure required will be much more than in a medium
level turn.
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Maintain a Steep Turn
LAI
• Lookout - Keep a good lookout
• Attitude - Maintain a constant bank and pitch attitude
• Instruments - Cross check:
• AH for bank angle
• Altimeter or VSI for Altitude
• Slip indicator for balance
• DI for heading
If climbing:
• Increase bank angle and/or
• Relax back pressure
If descending:
• Reduce bank angle
• Allow nose to rise back up with back pressure
• Reapply desired bank attitude with increased back pressure
Exit from a steep turn
BBB
• Bank - Bank the aircraft back to wings level.
• Power should be reduced back to cruise just before passing the 30° bank
angle
• Balance - Apply rudder in direction of roll to keep ball in the centre.
• Back pressure - While rolling back, release the back pressure applied on the
control column.
Anticipate Rollout = (1/2 * bank angle) prior to nal heading
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Common errors
• Not looking outside
• Insu cient or too much rudder usage
• Insu cient or too much back pressure
• Banking beyond 45°
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Completion standards
• Altitude deviations for steep turns: +/-100 ft
• Airspeed deviations: +/-10kts
• Bank angle: +/- 5°
• Roll out HDG: +/- 10°
