What altitude loss is associated with a 30° bank during descent?

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When an aircraft is in a descent with a bank angle of 30 degrees, it experiences a specific rate of descent as well as altitude loss that correlates to its bank angle. In general aviation and flight training, it's established that for a standard rate of descent during a coordinated turn, the altitude loss can be approximated using the bank angle.

For a 30-degree bank, the altitude loss is typically around 2,000 feet for every minute of descent at a standard rate of descent, when considering a turn. This is because the aircraft, while maintaining a 30-degree bank, increases its effective descent rate. The unique physics behind the bank angle causes a greater descent due to the increased load factor and the need for additional lift, which in turn influences the rate of descent.

Thus, a 30-degree bank while descending leads to an altitude loss of about 2,000 feet in an effective and standardized measure, making this the correct choice for the given question.

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