Definition
The increase in apparent weight on an aircraft and its occupants that occurs during a coordinated, constant-altitude turn, expressed as a multiple of normal gravity (G) and determined entirely by the bank angle. In any level turn, the wings must produce more lift than the aircraft's weight to both support the aircraft and pull it through the turn; the steeper the bank, the greater the lift required, and therefore the greater the load factor. At a 60-degree bank in level flight, the load factor is 2 G, meaning the wings carry twice the aircraft's weight; at 75 degrees it is approximately 3.86 G; and the load factor rises rapidly toward infinity as the bank approaches 90 degrees.
Plain English
When you bank the airplane and hold altitude, the wings have to work harder, and everything in the airplane feels heavier. The steeper the bank, the heavier it feels. At a 60-degree bank, you and the airplane weigh twice as much as normal. Past that, the weight increase gets dramatic very quickly.
Context Anchor
Seen when studying steep turns, stall speed, maneuvering limits, and why bank angle matters during training and checkride maneuvers.
Derivation
Load means the weight or force being carried. Factor means a multiplier. In this aviation use, load factor means how many times the airplane’s normal weight the wings are effectively supporting.
Why Pilots Care
Higher load factors raise stall speed and increase the risk of an accelerated stall or structural overload if the pilot does not anticipate the change.
Grounding Statement
Hold a bucket of water by the handle and walk in a straight line, then walk in a tight circle while keeping the bucket level. The tighter the circle, the harder you have to pull on the handle. The wings feel the same thing in a steep turn.
Intuition Check
Do not read load factor as cargo weight or baggage load. Here it means the force multiplier on the airplane and pilot during the turn.
Example Sentence 1
During steep turn practice, the instructor pointed out that holding altitude at a 60-degree bank meant the airplane was experiencing a load factor of 2 G.
Example Sentence 2
A pilot practicing steep turns monitors load factor to stay within the airplane's published maneuvering speed limits.