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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/sport-stall-speed-in-turn

Compared with straight-and-level flight, the stall speed in a level turn is what?

Higher, and it rises as the bank gets steeper.

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  1. Higher ✔
  2. Lower
  3. The same

Why: In a turn the wing must carry extra load on top of the aircraft's weight, so it needs more lift. That makes the aircraft stall at a higher speed than in straight flight.

Huh, didn't know that: In a turn, centrifugal force is added to the aircraft's weight and the wing must produce enough additional lift.

The dad joke
Why did the pilot turn so slowly? He didn't want to stall the conversation.
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References

Answer: Higher. In a turn the wing must carry extra load on top of the aircraft's weight, so it needs more lift. That makes the aircraft stall at a higher speed than in straight flight.

  1. FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Chapter 5 www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/07_phak_ch5_0.pdf
    The stalling speed of an aircraft is also higher in a level turn
    Checked 2026-10-11.
  2. FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Chapter 5 www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/07_phak_ch5_0.pdf
    produce sufficient additional lift to counterbalance the load
    Checked 2026-10-11.

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