Which two factors primarily affect an aircraft's turning performance?

Turning performance in aircraft is influenced significantly by both speed and bank angle. When an aircraft is in a turn, it must create a balance between the centripetal force required to maintain the turn and the forces acting on it, including weight and lift.

Speed plays a crucial role because it affects the radius of the turn. When an aircraft increases speed while turning, it requires a greater amount of lift to maintain the same bank angle. As speed increases, the required bank angle also increases to maintain a coordinated turn. The dynamics of turning are governed by the relationship between airspeed and the turning radius; higher speeds lead to larger radii if the bank angle remains constant.

The bank angle is vital because it directly influences the load factor or the G-forces experienced by the aircraft during the turn. A steeper bank angle increases the load factor, thus requiring the wings to generate more lift to counteract the increased weight component acting downwards due to the turn. This results in a tighter turning performance.

In summary, speed and bank angle are the two primary factors affecting an aircraft's turning performance, as they jointly determine the equilibrium between lift, weight, and the necessary centripetal forces during a turn.