FAA Flight Instructor Airplane (FIA)Flight Maneuvers and EndorsementsEasy
During a rectangular ground reference maneuver, the pilot should use the steepest bank angle during which turn?
- AThe turn from downwind to base
- BThe turn from crosswind to downwind
- CAll turns should use the same bank angle
- DThe turn from upwind to crosswind
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. The turn from downwind to base
Groundspeed is greatest while flying downwind due to the tailwind component. Since bank angle must be steepest when groundspeed is highest to maintain a constant radius from the reference line, the steepest bank occurs during the turn from downwind to base leg.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Groundspeed is increasing but not yet at its maximum during this turn.
- C. Bank angle must vary throughout the maneuver to compensate for changing groundspeed.
- D. Groundspeed on the upwind-to-crosswind turn is relatively low, requiring a shallower bank.
Rectangular Course Bank Variation
A ground reference maneuver requiring the pilot to vary bank angle to maintain a constant ground track distance from a rectangular field, with steepest bank where groundspeed is greatest.
- Steepest bank occurs turning off the downwind leg (highest groundspeed)
- Shallowest bank occurs turning off the upwind leg (lowest groundspeed)
- Bank angle continuously varies through each turn to compensate for wind drift
Memory trick: 'Downwind is fastest, so bank the steepest' after that leg.