Weathervaning - what actually turns an aircraft in flight.

[Tarheelpilot]

But what if it's a downwind turn?

It does not matter. The pilot accounts for any environmental variables. The airplane still turns without much excitement. I am surprised at the stamina this thread has demonstrated.

 

[dtuuri]

Well picked out of a copy I have of the 2004 version of The "Airplane Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-3A"

...
• The throttle provides thrust which may be used for
airspeed to tighten the turn.
...

and that's pretty much what I was taught about 40 years ago. Granted the wording may not be scientific as it's not a publication meant for scientists but I believe the fundamentals are correct.

For the newbies... when you add throttle and don't touch anything else, the airspeed decreases, thus tightening the turn. Turn radius increases with an increase in airspeed.

dtuuri

 

[airguy]

"If you turn the head, the tail will follow."

Beyond that, I'm not going to try to teach physics here.

 

[SixPapaCharlie]

Newton and Bernoulli turn airplanes.

 

[Henning]

The handlebars.

I can turn the corner on a bike with my hands in my pockets.

 

[Henning]

Newton and Bernoulli turn airplanes.

I have watched PHd Aerodynamicists get into ***** fights about the validity of Bernouli to stand alone or if it is just an observed effect of Newton.