Definition
The complete aerodynamic lift force produced by the wings, acting perpendicular to the relative wind. In a turn, total lift is divided into two components: a vertical component that supports the airplane's weight, and a horizontal component that pulls the airplane around the turn. To maintain altitude in a turn, total lift must be increased so the vertical component still equals weight after some of the lift has been redirected horizontally.
Plain English
The full lifting force the wings are producing. When you bank into a turn, that force tilts with the wings, so part of it lifts the airplane up and part of it pulls it sideways into the turn. To keep from losing altitude, you need to make more of it overall.
Context Anchor
Seen when learning level turns, especially in explanations of why an airplane needs more lift as bank angle increases.
Derivation
“Total” comes from a word meaning “whole” or “entire.” “Lift” means a force that raises or supports. Together, “total lift” means the whole lifting force before you think about how much of it is acting upward or sideways.
Why Pilots Care
Failing to produce sufficient total lift in a turn results in altitude loss or an unintended descent.
Grounding Statement
Picture the lift arrow tilting with the airplane in a bank: the whole arrow is total lift, and only part of that arrow points straight up.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “total lift” means only the lift holding the airplane up. In a banked turn, total lift is tilted, so only part of it supports the airplane’s weight.
Example Sentence 1
As the pilot rolled into a 30-degree bank, they added back pressure to increase total lift and hold altitude through the turn.
Example Sentence 2
At 45 degrees of bank the total lift required is 1.41 times the aircraft weight.