Originally posted by Angus
Does a constant (say 3)G doing a circle always yield the same time around 360 degrees with the circle growing bigger with more speed?
The answer is that not only does the circle grow bigger with more speed, the time to complete the circle increases as well. Here's why:
Rate of Turn = (360 * Velocity) / (2*Pi*Radius of Turn)
Radius of Turn = Velocity^2 / (gravity*tan(bank angle))
G Load = 1 / cos (bank angle)
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- Constant G means that the bank angle is constant.
- If bank angle is constant then the only variable in turn radius is velocity so if velocity increases so does the radius.
- Rate of turn is a function of velocity and turn radius. Since radius of turn increases with the velocity^2, then the v/radius ratio changes with radius increasing at a rate faster than velocity. The result is a slower rate of turn. This becomes obvious when you plug some numbers.
E.g. using the above equations assume a P-51D at 6G's at 260 MPH:
radius=760ft
turn rate=28.6 dps
time around 360 deg=12.5 sec
6G's at 350 MPH would give:
radius=1383ft
turn rate=21.1
time around 360 deg=16.9 sec
(The above example is only hypothetical. You couldn't sustain a 6G turn for 360 degrees in a P-51D due to E bleed.)
Tango, XO
412th FS Braunco Mustangs