Definition
A maneuver in which the airplane gains altitude while simultaneously banking to change heading. Because the lift vector is tilted away from vertical during the bank, the airplane has less vertical lift available to climb, so the rate of climb is reduced compared to a straight climb at the same power and airspeed. The combination of high pitch attitude, reduced airspeed, and bank increases the load factor on the inside wing and raises the risk of a stall, particularly if the turn is uncoordinated.
Plain English
Climbing and turning at the same time. The airplane goes up and changes direction in one combined maneuver, but it climbs more slowly than it would in a straight climb because some of the lift is being used to turn.
Context Anchor
Seen during departure, go-arounds, and stall training, especially when a pilot turns while the airplane is still climbing at a slower speed.
Why Pilots Care
Correct coordination prevents loss of control or an unintended stall during a climb.
Intuition Check
A climbing turn is not just pointing the nose up during a turn. The key point is that the airplane is actually gaining altitude while changing direction.
Example Sentence 1
After lift-off, the pilot established a shallow climbing turn to the left to join the crosswind leg.
Example Sentence 2
After takeoff the pilot made a climbing turn to depart the pattern while continuing to gain altitude.