Definition
The component of an airplane's total lift that acts straight up, opposing weight. In a banked turn, total lift tilts with the wings, so only the vertical part of that lift continues to support the airplane against gravity, while the horizontal part pulls the airplane around the turn.
Plain English
It's the upward portion of the wing's lift — the part that holds the airplane up against its own weight. When you bank, some of the lift is redirected sideways to turn the airplane, so less of it is pointing straight up.
Context Anchor
Seen in level-turn discussions, especially when explaining why an airplane needs more total lift to hold altitude while banked.
Derivation
Vertical comes from Latin words connected with a straight up-and-down line. Lift means raising or supporting something. Together, the phrase points to the upward, weight-supporting part of lift.
Why Pilots Care
In a turn the vertical component decreases with bank angle, so total lift must be increased to prevent descent and the resulting higher load factor raises stall speed.
Grounding Statement
When the wings are banked, lift leans with them, so only part of it points straight up.
Intuition Check
Vertical lift is not a separate kind of lift made by the airplane. It is the upward portion of the wing’s total lift.
Example Sentence 1
As the bank angle increased through 45 degrees, the pilot added back pressure to maintain vertical lift and hold altitude.
Example Sentence 2
At 60 degrees of bank the vertical component is only half the total lift, requiring a noticeable increase in angle of attack.