What term describes the ratio of lift to weight in flight?

• A. Load Factor
• B. Stability Factor
• C. Turn Factor
• D. Drag Factor

Answer: (A)

The concept being tested is how lift compares to the airplane’s weight, which is described by the load factor. Load factor is the ratio of lift to weight (n = L/W).

In straight and level flight, lift balances weight, so the load factor is 1. In a turn, you must generate extra lift to provide the centripetal force needed to change direction, so L increases while W stays the same, making the ratio L/W greater than 1. If the bank angle is φ, the required lift to hold altitude is L = W / cosφ, so the load factor is n = 1 / cosφ. That means the steeper the turn, the higher the load factor (for example, at 60 degrees bank, n = 2).

This concept also connects to stall speed: as load factor increases, the airplane reaches stall at a higher airspeed than in level flight.

The other terms listed aren’t used to describe lift-to-weight ratio. They don’t specifically quantify how lift compares to weight in flight.