FAA-H-8083-25C, ch. 5

What is load factor?

Load factor tells you how hard the structure is working. Here is what it is, how turns raise it, the exam traps and practice questions, with the FAA source under each answer.

Part 107, explained · Last reviewed October 25, 2026 against the eCFR and faa.gov. UAV Campus is not affiliated with the FAA.

What is load factor, and how does bank angle raise it?

Load factor is the force on the aircraft structure compared with its weight, measured in Gs. Straight, unaccelerated flight is always 1 G. Any force that deflects the flight path from a straight line adds load, so every banked turn raises it: 2 Gs at 60 degrees of bank, 5.76 Gs at 80 degrees.

Sources: FAA-H-8083-25C ch. 5, Load Factors · FAA-H-8083-25C ch. 5, Load Factors in Steep Turns

What the FAA handbook says

FAA-H-8083-25C ch. 5, Load Factors

Any force applied to an aircraft to deflect its flight from a straight line produces a stress on its structure. The amount of this force is the load factor.

FAA-H-8083-25C ch. 5, Load Factors

For example, a load factor of 3 means the total load on an aircraft’s structure is three times its weight.

FAA-H-8083-25C ch. 5, Load Factors in Steep Turns

The load factor for any aircraft in a coordinated level turn at 60° bank is 2 Gs. The load factor in an 80° bank is 5.76 Gs.

FAA-H-8083-25C ch. 5, Load Factors and Flight Maneuvers

Critical load factors apply to all flight maneuvers except unaccelerated straight flight where a load factor of 1 G is always present.

Sources: FAA-H-8083-25C ch. 5, Load Factors · FAA-H-8083-25C ch. 5, Load Factors · FAA-H-8083-25C ch. 5, Load Factors in Steep Turns · FAA-H-8083-25C ch. 5, Load Factors and Flight Maneuvers

Exam traps

  • A load factor of 3 means the total load on the structure is three times the aircraft's weight.
  • The load factor increases at a terrific rate after a bank has reached 45 or 50 degrees.
  • Increased load factors are a characteristic of all banked turns.
  • A normal stall entered from straight-and-level flight does not produce added load factors beyond the 1 G of straight-and-level flight.

Try it: practice questions

Similar to the FAA test, not the actual test questions.

Practice question 3

When operating an unmanned airplane, the remote pilot should consider that the load factor on the wings may be increased anytime

  1. A the CG is shifted rearward to the aft CG limit.
  2. B the gross weight is reduced.
  3. C the airplane is subjected to maneuvers other than straight and level flight.
Show the answer
Answer: C. the airplane is subjected to maneuvers other than straight and level flight.

Total lift increases when the aircraft is turning or climbing/descending, aka “maneuvers other than straight and level flight”. The gross weight does have a detrimental effect on load factor as well but only when it increases (more weight = more lift = more load factor). Finally, the location of the CG does not have an effect on load factor.)

FAA source: FAA-H-8083-25C ch. 5, Load Factors and Flight Maneuvers

Why does load factor matter to a pilot?

A pilot can impose a dangerous overload on the aircraft structure, and an increased load factor increases the stalling speed and makes stalls possible at seemingly safe flight speeds.

Source: FAA-H-8083-25C ch. 5, Load Factors

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