In a level, coordinated turn with a bank of 60 degrees, what is the load factor?

In a level, coordinated turn, the load factor increases due to the additional vertical load that the aircraft experiences as it banks. When an aircraft is turned, the lift vector tilts with the wing, and in a banked turn, a component of lift must counteract not just the weight of the aircraft but also provide the necessary centripetal force to keep it in a circular path.

For a bank angle of 60 degrees, the calculation of load factor can be derived from the formula:

Load Factor (G) = 1 / cos(θ)

In this instance, with a bank angle (θ) of 60 degrees:

Load Factor = 1 / cos(60 degrees)

= 1 / 0.5

= 2.0 Gs

Therefore, the load factor in a level, coordinated turn with a bank of 60 degrees is 2.0 Gs. This means that the total load on the aircraft is twice its weight, which occurs in a tight banked turn due to the increased vertical component of lift.