AerodynamicsQuestion 492 of 934

An airplane has a load factor of 3. What does this mean?

  1. The structure carries three times the weight
  2. The airplane flies at three times the stall speed
  3. The lift is one-third of the airplane weight
  4. The weight is three times the normal gross weight
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Correct answer: The structure carries three times the weight

A load factor of 3 is also called 3 Gs. The total load on the structure is three times its weight.

Source: Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C), Chapter 5: Aerodynamics of Flight — Load Factors, page 130

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Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026