Turn Rate, Bank Angle and Radius Calculator
Find the bank angle for a standard-rate turn, or the turn rate and radius for a given bank. At 120 kt TAS a standard-rate (3°/s) turn needs about 18° of bank and has a radius of about 0.64 NM.
Level, coordinated turn in still air. Wind changes the shape of the turn over the ground.
Method and rule of thumb
tan(bank) = ω × V ÷ g, with turn rate ω in radians per second, TAS V in m/s and g = 9.80665 m/s². Radius = V ÷ ω, or V² ÷ (g × tan bank). Load factor = 1 ÷ cos(bank), and stall speed rises by the square root of the load factor. The pilot’s shortcut for standard-rate bank is TAS ÷ 10 + 7.
Standard-rate turns at a glance
| TAS | Bank | Radius |
|---|---|---|
| 90 kt | 13.9° | 0.48 NM |
| 120 kt | 18.2° | 0.64 NM |
| 150 kt | 22.4° | 0.80 NM |
| 180 kt | 26.3° | 0.95 NM |
| 210 kt | 30.0° | 1.11 NM |
Above about 210 kt TAS a standard-rate turn needs more than 30° of bank. Most procedures limit bank to 25°–30°, so fly the bank limit and accept a slower rate.
Read the guide: Standard-Rate Turns: Bank Angle, Turn Radius and Load Factor
FAA Instrument Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-15) and Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3).
Last reviewed: November 2026
Frequently asked questions
Why use true airspeed, not IAS?
The geometry of the turn depends on the aircraft’s real speed through the air. At altitude TAS is well above IAS, so the turn needs more bank and is wider.
How accurate is TAS ÷ 10 + 7?
Within about 2° between 100 and 160 kt. It understates the bank at jet speeds.