Which force acts toward the center of rotation in turning flight?

• A. Centripetal force
• B. Centrifugal force
• C. Weight
• D. Drag

Answer: (A)

In turning flight, the aircraft must experience an inward force toward the center of the turn to create the necessary centripetal acceleration. That inward force comes from the horizontal component of lift produced when the aircraft is banked. As you bank, lift tilts, and while its vertical component still supports weight in a level turn, the horizontal component points toward the turn center, pulling the aircraft inward. Drag acts along the flight path and weight acts downward, so they don’t provide the inward pull. Centrifugal force isn’t an actual force in the aircraft’s inertial frame; it’s the outward effect you feel in a rotating frame. So the force toward the center of rotation in turning flight is centripetal force.