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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/pilot-p-factor-left-yaw

At a high angle of attack, P-factor yaws a typical single-engine airplane which way?

Left, so pilots add right rudder.

  1. Right
  2. Left ✔
  3. Nose up

Why: At high angle of attack, the descending propeller blade on the right side takes a bigger bite of air than the rising blade. That shifts thrust to the right and yaws the nose left.

Huh, didn't know that: Most US-built engines turn the propeller clockwise as seen from the pilot's seat, which is why these tendencies point left.

The dad joke
Why did the propeller feel left out? Everyone kept turning left without it.
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Sources

  1. FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C), Chapter 5 https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/faa-h-8083-25c.pdf
  2. FAA Private Pilot Airplane (PAR) sample questions https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/training_testing/testing/test_questions/par_questions.pdf

Test yourself in the game

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