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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 July 2016
This paper develops the theory of turning flight in amoving air mass to explain some of the problemsencountered in making downwind turns, particularlyin light aircraft. Although the basic mechanics offlight and aerodynamics of the aircraft are wellunderstood, the methods used by the pilot to controlthe aircraft in turning flight are less wellestablished and can be critical in maintaining asafe flight path. In this paper the effect of thecontrol strategy likely to be employed by a pilotflying close to the ground is used to show how theenergy loss during a turn can lead to an unsafeflight path.