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Max rate and Min radius turn

Asked by: 4619 views
Aerodynamics, Light Sport Aircraft

Hi my question is ; When we want to do max rate turns, does it mean that we are also trying to achieve min radius turn ? Cheeers

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2 Answers



  1. John D Collins on Oct 07, 2015

    I am not familiar with the term “max rate turns”. At a given speed, the minimum level turn radius is achieved by using the highest bank angle that won’t result in a stall. But the turn radius is V squared times a constant and then divided by the tangent of the bank angle. So slowing down and using a shallower angle can be much more effective in reducing the radius of the turn. For example, at 120 Kts, the turn radius using 45 degrees of bank is 1275 feet and the total space required to get turned around is 2550 feet. Slowing to 80 Kts and using a 30 degree bank has a turn radius of 982 feet and the total distance required is 1964 feet, a 23 percent reduction.

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  2. flyboy737 on Oct 09, 2015

    Hi, thanks for your answer.

    Max rate turn is turn which. \”maximum degrees turned through minimum time\”

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