In flight mechanics, “velocity” refers to the speed of an aircraft in a specific direction, typically measured as true airspeed (TAS). As velocity increases, the turn radius tends to decrease, assuming other factors remain constant. This is due to the increased centripetal force needed at higher speeds to keep the aircraft in a curved path. The velocity of an aircraft has a direct effect on the load factor, with an increase in velocity typically resulting in a decrease in the load factor during level flight. The formula to calculate velocity as follows:
Where:
- V is the Velocity in m/s,
- R is the Turn Radius in m,
- n is the load factor,
- g is the gravity in m/s2.