AERO

Question 1

List and describe the operation of primary flight controls

Answer 1

Primary flight controls cause motion in the three axes (vertical axis =yaw, lateral axis=pitch, and longitudinal axis=roll)

Elevator: Pitch up/down
Ailerons: Roll (bank)
Rudder: Yaw (horizontal left/right)

Question 2

What are the forces at work on an airplane in flight?

Answer 2

Lift
Weight
Thrust
Drag

Question 3

What is the purpose of trailing edge flaps and leading edge flaps or slats?

Answer 3

To produce additional lift at low speeds such as during takeoff and landing by changing the chord line of the wings.

Question 4

What is the purpose of flight spoilers and ground spoilers?

Answer 4

Flight spoilers reduce lift and enable a greater descent rate without an increase in speed when manually operated.
Flight spoilers also work automatically to assist ailerons in roll control.

Ground spoilers may only be operated upon landing to reduce lift, causing more aircraft weight to be placed on landing gear, therefore increasing braking effectiveness.

Question 5

How do wings produce lift?

Answer 5

A combination of Bernoulli’s Principle (low pressure created due to greater distance across top surface) and Newton’s Third Law of Motion (air impacting bottom of wings, causing an equal, opposite reaction when deflected.

Question 6

What is the impact of high temperature, high atmospheric moisture content, and high airport elevation on aerodynamic lift.

Answer 6

High temperature and atmospheric moisture content reduce air density. Air density decreases with altitude increases.
Low air density reduces wings’ ability to produce lift.