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Flight Instructor 4 Hire

Four Left Turning Tendencies (Torque)

1. Torque Reaction from Engine and Propeller.

2. Corkscrewing Effect of the Slipstream.

3. Gyroscopic Action of the Propeller.

4. Asymmetric Loading of the Propeller (P Factor).

Reference:   FAA-H-8083-25

Torque Reaction

Newton’s 3rd Law:  For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

torque reaction

Corkscrew Slipstream

Slipstream pushes on the left vertical stabilizer and turns airplane to the left.

corkscrewing slipstream

Gyroscopic Precession

taildragger gyroscopic precession

Applied force is felt 90 degrees in front.  Taildragger as the tail lifts, turns to the left.

gyroscopic precession1

P-Factor

Descending prop has more bite, and pulls right side of the airplane around.  The effect is that the plane turns to the left.

P factor