Load factor is defined as?

• A. The ratio of lift to weight
• B. The total weight of the aircraft
• C. The maximum payload allowed
• D. The ratio of a specified load to the total weight of the aircraft

Answer: (D)

Load factor is the ratio of the load the aircraft’s wings must support to the aircraft’s weight. In practice this is usually written as n = L/W, where L is the load the airplane must carry (often lift). The key idea is how many times the weight the wings are supporting in a given maneuver.

Why this fits: the phrase “ratio of a specified load to the total weight” captures that the load factor depends on the particular load the wings must provide for the maneuver, not just lift in isolation. In steady, level flight that load equals the weight, so the load factor is 1. In a turn or pull-up, the required lift increases, so the load factor rises above 1.

Why the other ideas aren’t as accurate: linking load factor strictly to lift and weight ignores other scenarios where different loads are involved, though lift is the primary one in many cases. The total weight by itself isn’t a ratio and doesn’t describe how much additional lift is needed. The maximum payload is a different concept entirely and doesn’t define load factor.