What is the primary goal of performing a steep turn during flight training?

The primary goal of performing a steep turn during flight training is to understand the relationship between bank, pitch, and power. This maneuver teaches pilots how to maintain coordinated flight while changing the aircraft's angle of bank to create a tighter turn. As the bank angle increases, the pilot must also adjust pitch to maintain altitude and apply appropriate power to counteract the increased drag and potential loss of airspeed. This exercise emphasizes the need for effective control inputs and understanding how different flight parameters interact with each other, which is fundamental for safe and proficient flying.

While increasing cruising altitude, enhancing engine performance, and improving navigation skills are all important aspects of flying, they are not the primary objectives of steep turns. Instead, the steep turn focuses specifically on the dynamic relationship between aircraft control inputs and the resulting flight characteristics in a banked turn. This understanding is essential for managing the aircraft safely in various flight situations.