Airplanes & Aerodynamics

PA.I.G.K1b Source: FAA-H-8083-25B Chap 6 What is one purpose of wing flaps?

• To enable the pilot to make steeper approaches to a landing without increasing the airspeed.
• To relieve the pilot of maintaining continuous pressure on the controls.
• To decrease wing area to vary the lift.

Answer explanation

Answer (A) is correct. (FAA-H-8083-25B Chap 6) ( ? )Extending the flaps increases the wing camber and the angle of attack of the wing. This increases wing lift and induced drag, which enables the pilot to make steeper approaches to a landing without an increase in airspeed.

PA.I.G.K1b Source: FAA-H-8083-25B Chap 6 One of the main functions of flaps during approach and landing is to

• decrease the angle of descent without increasing the airspeed.
• permit a touchdown at a higher indicated airspeed.
• increase the angle of descent without increasing the airspeed.

Answer explanation

Answer (C) is correct. (FAA-H-8083-25B Chap 6) ( ? )Extending the flaps increases the wing camber and the angle of attack of the wing. This increases wing lift and induced drag, which enables the pilot to increase the angle of descent without increasing the airspeed.

PA.I.G.K1a Source: FAA-H-8083-25B Chap 6 What is the purpose of the rudder on an airplane?

• To control yaw.
• To control overbanking tendency.
• To control roll.

Answer explanation

Answer (A) is correct. (FAA-H-8083-25B Chap 6) ( ? )The rudder is used to control yaw, which is rotation about the airplane’s vertical axis.

PA.I.G.K1a Source: FAA-H-8083-25B Chap 6 Which is not a primary flight control surface?

• Flaps.
• Stabilator.
• Ailerons.

Answer explanation

Answer (A) is correct. (FAA-H-8083-25B Chap 6) ( ? )The three primary flight controls of an airplane are the ailerons, the elevator (or stabilator), and the rudder.

PA.I.G.K1a Source: FAA-H-8083-25B Chap 6 The elevator controls movement around which axis?

• Longitudinal.
• Lateral.
• Vertical.

Answer explanation

Answer (B) is correct. (FAA-H-8083-25B Chap 6) ( ? )The elevator is the primary control device for changing the pitch attitude of an airplane about the lateral axis.

PA.I.G.K1a Source: FAA-H-8083-25B Chap 6 Which statement is true concerning primary flight controls?

• The effectiveness of each control surface increases with speed because there is more airflow over them.
• Only when all three primary flight controls move in sequence do the airflow and pressure distribution change over and around the airfoil.
• Primary flight controls include ailerons, rudder, elevator, and trim systems.

Answer explanation

Answer (A) is correct. (FAA-H-8083-25B Chap 6) ( ? )Rudder, aileron, and elevator effectiveness increase with speed because there is more airflow over the surface of the control device.

PA.I.G.K1b Source: FAA-H-8083-25B Chap 6 Which of the following is true concerning flaps?

• Flaps are attached to the leading edge of the wing and are used to increase wing lift.
• Flaps allow an increase in the angle of descent without increasing airspeed.
• Flaps are high drag devices deployed from the wings to reduce lift.

Answer explanation

Answer (B) is correct. (FAA-H-8083-25B Chap 6) ( ? )Flaps are attached to the trailing edge of the wing and are used during approach and landing to increase wing lift. This allows an increase in the angle of descent without increasing airspeed.

PA.I.G.K1b Source: FAA-H-8083-25B Chap 6 Which device is a secondary flight control?

• Spoilers.
• Ailerons.
• Stabilators.

Answer explanation

Answer (A) is correct. (FAA-H-8083-25B Chap 6) ( ? )Spoilers are high-drag devices that assist an aircraft in slowing down and losing altitude without gaining extra speed. They are common on gliders and some high-speed aircraft.

PA.I.G.K1b Source: FAA-H-8083-25B Chap 6 Trim systems are designed to do what?

• They relieve the pilot of the need to maintain constant pressure on the flight controls.
• They are used during approach and landing to increase wing lift.
• They move in the opposite direction from one another to control roll.

Answer explanation

Answer (A) is correct. (FAA-H-8083-25B Chap 6) ( ? )Trim systems are used to relieve the pilot of the need to maintain constant pressure on the flight controls. They include trim tabs, anti-servo tabs, and ground adjustable tabs.

PA.I.F.K3 Source: FAA-H-8083-25B Chap 5 The four forces acting on an airplane in flight are

• lift, weight, thrust, and drag.
• lift, weight, gravity, and thrust.
• lift, gravity, power, and friction.

Answer explanation

Answer (A) is correct. (FAA-H-8083-25B Chap 5) ( ? )Lift is produced by the wings and opposes weight, which is the result of gravity. Thrust is produced by the engine/propeller and opposes drag, which is the resistance of the air as the airplane moves through it.