In turns around a point with a direct tailwind, when does an airplane reach its greatest bank?

In a turn around a point with a direct tailwind, the airplane experiences varying wind effects depending on its position in the turn. The greatest bank angle is achieved when the airplane is heading directly downwind, as this is the point where the wind is pushing the aircraft along its path, requiring a steeper bank to maintain the desired circular flight path around the point.

When the airplane is headed directly downwind, the ground speed is increased due to the tailwind, requiring a higher angle of bank to counteract the increased horizontal component of lift needed to maintain the turn radius. This is vital to keep the aircraft from drifting away from the intended circular flight path around the point.

In contrast, when heading directly into the wind, the airplane would require less bank because the headwind would help to slow down the ground speed, decreasing the need for a steep bank. Similarly, in a steep climb, the bank angle would not reach its maximum since the aircraft is not in a constant-level turn but rather gaining altitude. The beginning of the turn is also not the point of greatest bank because the aircraft is still transitioning from straight flight into a coordinated turn.

Thus, recognizing that the greatest bank during the turn around a point occurs when the airplane is downwind helps