Operational Limitations

Question 1

Load factor

Answer 1

Load factor is the ratio of the maximum load an aircraft can sustain to the gross weight of the aircraft?
Load factor is measured in Gs (acceleration of gravity).
Any force applied to an aircraft to deflect its flight from a straight line produces a stress on its structure.
The amount of this force is the load factor.

Question 2

Load factor regulations

Answer 2

1.5 times the limit load factors.

Question 3

Category limit load factor

Answer 3

Normal 3.8 to –1.52
Safety Factor 5.7 to – 2.28
Utility 4.4 to –1.76
Acrobatic 6.0 to –3.00

Question 4

Important speeds

Answer 4

Vd – design dive speed
Vc – design cruising speed
Vno – maximum structural cruising speed
Vne – never exceed speed
●Not more than 90% of Vd
Va – maneuvering speed

Question 5

Load factors in steep turns

Answer 5

•The load factor increases at a exponential rate after a bank has reached 45° or 50°

•The load factor for any aircraft in a 60° bank is 2 Gs

•The load factor in an 80° bank is 5.76 Gs

Question 6

Load factors and stalling speeds

Answer 6

•The maximum speed at which an aircraft may be stalled safely is now determined for all new designs

•This speed is called the “design maneuvering speed” (VA) and must be entered in the FAA-approved AFM & POH for all recently designed aircraft

●1.7 times the normal stalling speed

Question 7

Physiology and Gs

Answer 7

4 G’s – we start to lose vision
6 G’s – we start to black out

Question 8

Limit load

Answer 8

force applied to an aircraft that causes a bending of the aircraft structure that does not return to the original shape

Question 9

Ultimate load

Answer 9

load factor applied to the aircraft beyond the limit load and at which point the aircraft material experiences structural failure