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Principles of flight

Since 1993, some aircraft manufacturers have started to state V 0 as the

maximum operational maneuvering speed.

This speed is the maximum speed at which full deflections can be made with the

elevator – without the aircraft suffering from overload.

V 0 at anything other than full weight is calculated as V a.

In strong turbulent air, vertical gusts of wind occur, which give a large lift. Since

the G-effect can be calculated as lift/weight, it can be seen that the lower the

aircraft's weight, the more Gs’ it is exposed to, and the lighter the aircraft is in
these gusts. If you are flying with less weight than stated, reduce the speed by

1% for every 2% the weight is lower.

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5.8.2 The load factor

The load factor in flight refers to the ratio between the forces acting on an

aircraft and the force of gravity. The load factor is often measured in "G", where

1 G corresponds to the weight of the aircraft under normal conditions (gravity).

During maneuvers such as steep turns, climbs or descents, the load factor can

change significantly, which can affect the aircraft's structure.

The load factor is measured as the ratio of the aircraft's weight to its lift:

G = lift / weight

If the aircraft weighs 1000 kg and produces a lift of 2000 kg the resulting force is

2G.

During un-accelerated straight and level -line flight, the load factor is 1.

The G-force can be positive or negative. When we climb, we experience a

positive force. Pushing the control wheel forward, the G-force will be negative.

Flight Theory PPL(A)(UL)/LAPL Henning Andersen, Midtjysk Flyveskole© marts 2026 500