Basic Aerodynamics Private Pilot

When taking off or landing at an airport where heavy aircraft are operating, one should be particularly alert to the hazards of wingtip vortices because this turbulence tends to

• rise from a crossing runway into the takeoff or landing path

• rise into the traffic pattern area surrounding the airport

• sink into the flightpath of aircraft operating below the aircraft generating the turbulence

If an airplane weighs 3300 pounds what approximate weight would the airplane structure be required to support during a 30° banked turn while maintaining altitude

• 1200 pounds

• 3100 pounds

• 3960 pounds

Answer explanation

Referencing FAA figure 2 use the following steps:

1. Enter the chart at a 30° angle of bank and proceed upward to the curved reference line. From the point of intersection move to the left side of the chart and read an approximate load factor of 1.2 Gs

2. Multiply the aircraft weight by the load factor: 3300×1.2=3960 lbs OR working from the table: 3300×1.154(load factor)=3808 pounds. Answer C is the closest.

Tags

Need figure 2

During a spin to the left, which wing(s) is/are stalled

• Both wings are stalled

• Neither wing is stalled

• Only the left wing is stalled

Answer explanation

One wing is less stalled than the other, but both wings are stalled in a spin

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

Flaps increase drag, allowing the pilot to make steeper approaches without increasing airspeed

The acute angle A is the angle of

• Incidence

• Attack

• Dihedral

Answer explanation

The angle of attack is the acute angle between the relative wind and the chord line of the wing.

Tags

Need figure 1

What is ground effect?

• The result of the interference of the surface of the earth with the airflow patterns about an airplane

• The results of an alteration in airflow patterns increasing induced drag about the wings of an airplane

• The result of the disruption of the airflow patterns about the wings of an airplane to the point where the wings will no longer support the airplane in flight

Answer explanation

Ground effect is the result of the interference of the surface of the earth with the airflow patterns about an airplane

When landing behind a large aircraft, the pilot should avoid turbulence by staying

• Above the large aircraft’s final approach path and landing beyond the large aircraft’s touchdown point

• Below the large aircraft’s final approach path and landing before the large aircraft’s touchdown point

• Above the large aircraft’s final approach path and landing before the large aircraft’s touchdown point

Answer explanation

When the landing behind a large aircraft stay at or above the large aircraft final approach path. Note its touchdown and land beyond it.

Wingtip vortices are created only when an aircraft is

• Operating at high airspeeds

• Heavily loaded

• Developing lift

Answer explanation

Lift is generated by the creation of a pressure differential over the wing surface. The lowest pressure occurs over the wing surface and the highest pressure occurs under the wing. this pressure differential triggers the roll up of the airflow aft of the wing, resulting in wingtip vortices. Vortices are generated from the moment and aircraft leaves the ground, since trailing vortices are a byproduct of wing lift.

The angle between the cord line of an air foil and the relative wind is known as the angle of

• Lift

• Attack

• Incidence

As altitude increases, the indicated airspeed at which a given airplane stalls in a particular configuration will

• Decrease as the true airspeed decreases

• Decrease as the true airspeed increases

• Remain the same regardless of altitude

Answer explanation

An increase in altitude has no effect on the indicated airspeed at which an airplane stalls at altitudes normally used by general aviation aircraft. This means that the same indicated airspeed should be maintained during the landing approach regardless of the elevation or the density altitude at the airport of landing.