Normal Category Aircraft

A "normal category" aircraft in aviation terms refers to a type of aircraft designed for general aviation, including passenger and cargo transport, and is certified for normal maneuvers, such as stalls and turns, but not aerobatic maneuvers.

Purpose

Normal category aircraft are designed for routine flying operations, including passenger and cargo transport, and are not intended for aerobatic maneuvers.

Maneuverability

These aircraft are designed to withstand +3.8 to -1.52 g's, or units of gravity.

Examples

Common examples include single-engine airplanes like the Cessna 172, which are certified in the normal category.

Regulations

The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) provides regulations for certification of normal category airplanes, which include standards for structural strength and flight characteristics.

Certification

Normal category airplanes are certified for maneuvers incident to normal flying, such as stalls (except whip stalls), lazy eights, chandelles, and steep turns with a bank angle not exceeding 60 degrees.