What happens to the load factor during a sharp turn?

During a sharp turn, the load factor increases significantly due to the increase in the horizontal component of lift required to maintain the turn. When an aircraft is in level flight, the lift generated must equal the weight to maintain altitude. However, during a turn, particularly a sharp one, the pilot must increase lift to counteract the added forces acting on the aircraft due to the turn's radius and bank angle. This increase in lift results in a higher load factor, which is effectively the ratio of lift to weight.

As the load factor increases, flying closer to the aircraft's critical angle of attack becomes a risk. The critical angle of attack is where the wing reaches its maximum lift capability before stalling. In a high-load factor scenario, pilots can inadvertently exceed this angle, leading to a stall even at higher airspeeds.

Understanding this relationship is crucial for pilots, as it highlights the importance of managing turn angles and speeds to maintain safe flight operations and avoid stalling during maneuvers.