Bank Angle

Bank Angle

What is a Bank Angle?

Navigating Turns with Bank Angle

Bank Angle is the angle at which an aircraft tilts to the side when a pilot turns the aircraft in the air, which is crucial for controlling the aircraft's direction and altitude.

Bank angle refers to the angle at which an aircraft is tilted sideways during a turn. It's the angle between the wings and the horizontal plane.

• Control and Use in Flight: Pilots control the bank angle using the aircraft's ailerons and rudder. It is a fundamental aspect of manoeuvring the aircraft, especially during turns.
• Influence on Flight Dynamics: The bank angle affects the aircraft's lift and turning radius. A greater bank angle results in a tighter turn but requires more lift to maintain altitude.
• Measurement: It's typically measured in degrees, and modern aircraft have instruments like attitude indicators to display the bank angle.

Bank angle is a critical element of aircraft control, used to navigate and manoeuvre the aircraft effectively during flight.