In a turn, how does centrifugal force relate to the horizontal component of lift?

In a turn, the aircraft experiences a balance between lift and centrifugal force. Centrifugal force is an apparent force that acts outward on an object moving in a circular path around a center. This is effectively what the pilot feels when turning. During a banked turn, the total lift generated by the wings is divided into vertical and horizontal components.

The horizontal component of lift is what counters the centrifugal force, instructing the aircraft to maintain its curved flight path. For a turn to be executed effectively without losing altitude, the horizontal component of lift must equal the centrifugal force.

However, when the statement indicates that centrifugal force exceeds the horizontal component of lift, it suggests that there is not enough lift directed towards the center of the turn to counteract the outward pull. This scenario would lead to a loss of altitude as the aircraft would drift outward from the desired path due to insufficient horizontal lift to keep it in the turn.

Thus, when centrifugal force exceeds the horizontal component of lift, the airplane risks going off course and losing altitude, revealing the importance of maintaining appropriate bank angles and airspeeds during a turn.