The load factor in a pull-down maneuver is the ratio of the total aerodynamic force to the weight of the aircraft. Specifically, it is the reciprocal of the cosine of the bank angle. The load factor quantifies the increase in apparent weight experienced by the aircraft during the maneuver due to the combination of gravitational and centrifugal forces. In a pull-down, the bank angle contributes to the load factor, influencing the aircraft’s structural and aerodynamic forces. The formula to calculate Load factor as follows:
Â
Where:
- V is the velocity in m/s,
- R is the Turn Radius in m,
- g is the gravity in m/s2