Drone Pilot Practice Exam

If a UAS weighs 23 pounds, how much weight does it need to support during a 60-degree banked turn to remain at the same altitude?

1. 23 pounds

2. 34 pounds

3. 46 pounds

4. 60 pounds

The correct answer is: 46 pounds

In a banked turn, the UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) is subject to increased load factors due to the combination of gravitational force and the bank angle. When a UAS banks, it must generate enough lift not only to counteract its own weight but also to provide the necessary centripetal force to maintain the turn. At a 60-degree bank angle, the load factor can be calculated using the formula: Load Factor = 1 / cos(bank angle). For a bank angle of 60 degrees, the cosine is 0.5. Therefore, the load factor is 1 / 0.5, which equals 2. This means that the UAS must produce twice the lift compared to straight and level flight to maintain altitude during the turn. If the UAS weighs 23 pounds, the total lift required during the banked turn can be calculated as follows: Total Lift = Weight × Load Factor = 23 pounds × 2 = 46 pounds. Thus, in order to maintain altitude during the 60-degree banked turn, the UAS must support a total weight of 46 pounds.