Definition
A bank angle that is steadily and progressively reduced throughout a maneuver, beginning from a maximum bank value at a defined point and rolling out smoothly toward wings-level at the maneuver's completion. In a chandelle, the bank is established in the first 90 degrees of turn and then continuously decreased over the second 90 degrees, with the rollout rate coordinated to the changing pitch attitude and decreasing airspeed.
Plain English
The wings start at their steepest tilt at one point in the maneuver, and from then on the tilt is gradually and constantly being reduced until the wings are level again.
Context Anchor
In the chandelle, this describes how the pilot reduces bank during the second half of the climbing 180-degree turn so the airplane reaches wings-level at the end of the maneuver.
Why Pilots Care
Produces a precise 180-degree turn that ends exactly on the target heading with wings level at minimum controllable airspeed.
Analogy
It is like slowly turning down a dimmer switch instead of flipping a light switch off at the last second.
Grounding Statement
Picture the airplane starting the second half of the chandelle with the wings tilted, then steadily rolling toward level until the wings are level right as the turn is completed.
Intuition Check
Do not read “bank” here as money or the side of a river. In flying, bank means the sideways tilt of the airplane’s wings.
Example Sentence 1
As the airplane passed the 90-degree point of the chandelle, the pilot began a continuously decreasing bank, timing the rollout so the wings became level exactly as the airplane reached the final heading.
Example Sentence 2
A continuously decreasing bank allows the airplane to roll out precisely on the desired heading at the completion of the chandelle.