How does an aircraft turn?

[Acadia]

From "The Illustrated Guide to Aerodynamics" 2nd Edition H.C. Skip Smith Page 180.

Anatomy of the turn:

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The tilted lift vector also has a horizontal component, lift times the sine of the bank angle, which is tending to pull the airplane into the direction of the bank. This pull should result in the airplane just moving sideways, and would, except that the vertical fin provides weathercock stability and thus aligns the longitudinal axis with the resultant motion.

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Obviously other situations can change what is turning the aircraft (like slamming the aircraft into a skid with rudder). The point is that the FAA answer of horizontal component of lift is far from a complete answer when describing what makes an airplane turn.

 

[djb]

The best explanation for how a plane turns can be found in "Stick and Rudder" by Wolfgang Langewiesche--published 60 years ago. Some things never change.

 

[Acadia]

Classic! Stick & Rudder -Page 199
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The Formula: An airplane turns because its wings shove it over sideways, and its tail makes it weathercock.

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That being noted I have been told and I have also read that much of the aerodynamics in “Stick & Rudder” is incorrect. This statement more or less jibes with the other texts though.

 

[Dazzler]

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The best explanation for how a plane turns can be found in "Stick and Rudder" by Wolfgang Langewiesche--published 60 years ago. Some things never change.

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If I remember correctly from reading the book, Langewiesche's mentality is that the airplane doesn't even need a rudder.

 

[Wm226]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The best explanation for how a plane turns can be found in "Stick and Rudder" by Wolfgang Langewiesche--published 60 years ago. Some things never change.

[/ QUOTE ]

If I remember correctly from reading the book, Langewiesche's mentality is that the airplane doesn't even need a rudder.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just use the doors!