Which statement is true about stall speeds and bank angle?

• A. Stall speeds are always lower in steeper banks.
• B. Stall speeds are lower in shallower banks.
• C. Stall speeds are higher in deeper banks.
• D. Bank angle has no effect on stall speed.

Answer: (B)

Stall speed depends on how much lift you must produce to balance the weight in a turn. In a coordinated level turn, the lift must be greater than the weight by the load factor, which is n = 1 / cos(bank angle). As the bank angle increases, cos(bank) decreases, so the load factor increases. Since stall occurs when the wing is at its maximum lift (Cl = Cl_max), the speed needed to produce that lift goes up in a banked turn. Put simply, V_stall in a turn grows with bank angle, so shallower (smaller) bank angles have lower stall speeds.

So stating that stall speeds are lower in shallower banks captures the direct relationship. It’s also true that stall speeds are higher in deeper banks, and the bank angle does affect stall speed, but the clearest takeaway is the direct inverse: shallower banks mean lower stall speed.