Inflight Maneuvers
Load factor and the accelerated stall
Every maneuver question ultimately traces back to angle of attack. Load factor n = 1/cos(bank): 30° gives 1.15 g, 45° gives 1.41 g, 60° gives 2.0 g. Stall speed rises with the square root of load factor, so at 60° bank the airplane stalls at about 1.41 times its level-flight stall speed. A 60-kt airplane stalls near 85 kt in a level 60° turn - the classic 'accelerated stall on a hot day' scenario that catches pilots who add back pressure to hold altitude.
Unusual attitude and upset recovery
The recovery priority is push, power, roll, stabilize: unload the wing first (reduce angle of attack), add power as appropriate, roll to level, then manage airspeed. For a nose-high unusual attitude, do not add power before reducing angle of attack - in a high-altitude or aft-CG situation that can deepen the stall or aggravate a pitch-up.
Holding and tracking traps
Standard holding is right turns, 1-minute legs at or below 14,000 ft, and timing begins abeam the fix or on crossing it. Entry selection (direct, parallel, teardrop) is judged by the aircraft's heading relative to the inbound course - questions often describe the outbound heading and expect you to translate.
Worked example: Banked 45° in a level turn, n = 1/cos 45° = 1.41. If the clean stall speed is 70 kt, the accelerated stall speed is 70 × √1.41 ≈ 83 kt.
Rule of thumb: banking beyond 45° in the pattern or in a hold eats your stall margin fast - trade bank for airspeed, not back pressure.