The load factor of an aircraft turning at a constant altitude is 2. The coefficient of lift required for turning flight as compared to level flight at the same speed will be
GATE AE - 2016,
Answer: C
The lift coefficient required is double that for level flight.
The load factor is \(n = L/W\), so in a turn with n = 2 the wing must produce twice the aircraft's weight in lift. Lift is \(L = \frac{1}{2}\rho V^{2} S C_{L}\). At the same speed, altitude and wing area, everything except \(C_{L}\) is unchanged, so \(C_{L}\) must double.
'Same' ignores the extra lift a level turn needs. 'Half' has the ratio inverted, and 'four times' would be right only if the speed were halved at the same lift, since lift varies with the square of speed.
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