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Aerodynamics Flashcards

1
Q

Atmosphere Composition

A

Nitrogen - 78%
Oxygen - 21%
Other gases - 1%

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2
Q

International Standard Atmosphere (ISA)

A

Defines a “Standard Day” conditions

All aircraft and engine performance data are based on ISA conditions

Altitude = Mean Sea Level (MSL)

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3
Q

Air Density

A

Air weighs .07651 lbs/cu ft under ISA conditions

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4
Q

Air Density and Temperature

A

Temperature increases, air density decreases

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5
Q

Air Density and Altitude

A

Altitude increases, air density decreases

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6
Q

Air Density and Humidity

A

Humidity increases, air density decreases

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7
Q

Air Density and Pressure

A

Pressure decreases, air density decreases

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8
Q

Air Density and Aircraft & Engine Performance

A

A decrease in air density causes a decrease in both aircraft and engine performance

Both lift and power decrease

Aircraft and engine perform best on a cool, dry day

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9
Q

Humidity

A

Measure of the amount of water vapor in the air

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10
Q

Humidity and Temperature

A

The amount of water vapor that can be held in the air is directly proportional to the temperature

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11
Q

Relative Humidity

A

A Ratio between the water vapor present in an air mass…
…compared to the amount that could be held at a specific temperature and pressure if the air were completely saturated

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12
Q

Dew Point

A

The temperature to which an air mass must be cooled to become completely saturated (RH = 100%)

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13
Q

Aerodynamics

A

The study of objects in motion through the air and the effects of these motions

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14
Q

Chord

A

The straight line distance from the leading to the trailing edge of an airfoil

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15
Q

Camber

A

The curvature of an airfoil

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16
Q

Relative wind

A

The oncoming airflow as seen by the airfoil

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17
Q

Angle of Attack

A

the acute angle formed between the chord line and the relative wind

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18
Q

Angle of incidence

A

the acute angle formed between the chord line and the longitudinal axis

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19
Q

Bernoulli’s Principle

A

Pressure is inversely proportional to velocity when fluid flowing through a tube passes through a constriction

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20
Q

Forces Affecting Flight

A

Gravity (or weight)
Lift
Thrust
Drag

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21
Q

Lift (3)

A

Produced when an airfoil meets the relative wind at a small angle of attack

The force which opposes gravity

An increase in lift will always be associated with an increase in drag

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22
Q

Thrust (2)

A

Forward propulsive force provided by engines

The center of thrust is located below the center of drag

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23
Q

Drag

A

Resistance to forward motion caused by friction between air and aircraft

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24
Q

Types of Drag

A

Induced Drag
Parasite Drag

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25
Induced Drag
Drag caused by the production of lift
26
Parasite Drag
Drag caused by non lift producing structures ( wheels, struts, windscreen, etc...)
27
Equilibrium
A condition where lift equals gravity and thrust equals drag Aircraft is in a straight line and level flight at a constant speed
28
Longitudinal Axis
Runs from the nose to the tail
29
Lateral Axis
Runs from wing tip to wing tip
30
Vertical Axis
Runs from the belly to the top
31
Axis Intersection
At the center of gravity
32
Ailerons
Controls "roll," motion around the longitudinal axis
33
Ailerons Location
Located at the trailing edge of the wind near the wing tips
34
Ailerons Operation
Rotation of the control wheel or side to side motion of the control stick
35
Control Stick Left
Left aileron up, right down
36
Control Stick Right
Right aileron up, left down
37
Ailerons Differential
A rigging that causes the upward moving aileron to deflect farther than the downward moving aileron
38
Elevators
Controls "pitch," motion around the lateral axis
39
Elevators Location
Located at the trailing edge of the horizontal stabilizer
40
Elevators Operation
Forward or Reward motion of the wheel or stick
41
Control Stick Forward
Elevator down, nose down
42
Control Stick Rearward
Elevator up, nose up
43
Elevators Function
Changes the angle of attack, which changes lift and drag The elevator is the primary speed control Aircraft climbs or descends primarily as the result of power changes
44
Rudder
Controls "yaw," motion around the vertical axis
45
Rudder Location
Located on the trailing edge of the vertical stabilizer
46
Rudder Operation
Operated by the rudder pedals Left Foot = left rudder Cancels the unequal drag caused by aileron deflection
47
Rudder Function
Streamlines fuselage Reduces drag and improves the quality of a turn, but does not turn the aircraft
48
Longitudinal Stability
Stability around the lateral axis
49
How is Longitudinal Stability Achieved?
Maintaining the center of lift behind the center of gravity on the aircraft wing nose heavy
50
Lateral Stability
Stability around the longitudinal axis
51
How is Lateral stability achieved?
Lateral stability is maintained by wing dihedral
52
Wing Dihedral
The upward bend or the wings stretching out from the wing base to the wing tip
53
Wing Dihedral Benefit
Gives the aircraft the tendency to return wings to level after rolling
54
Torque (Propeller Driven Aircraft)
In single engine aircraft, the engine rotates clockwise which tends to roll the fuselage counterclockwise
55
Asymmetrical Thrust (Propeller Driven Aircraft)
At high AOA, the descending blade produces more thrust than the ascending blade, causing the aircraft to yaw to the left
56
Spiraling slipstream (Propeller Driven Aircraft)
The rotating propeller causes the backward airflow to wrap around the fuselage and strike the vertical stabilizer on the left side, causing the tail to yaw right which in turn cause the nose to yaw left
57
Gyroscopic Precession (Propeller Driven Aircraft
As the nose of the aircraft is returned to level from high AOA, a greater force is exerted on the top of the propeller. This force is felt 90 degrees ahead and in the direction of rotation causing the aircraft to yaw left
58
Flaps
Deployed to increase the camber of the airfoil
59
Flaps Benefits
Increases lift and drag Reduces stall speed for reduced landing speed or takeoff roll
60
Plain flaps
Hinged at the trailing edge of the wing Will move down and into airflow (least efficient)
61
Split Flap
Section of the lower wing surface hinged forward of trailing edge
62
Fowler Flap
Flap moves aft and down when deployed increases wing area first before increasing wing angle of attack (most efficient)
63
Slotted Flap
As flap deploys and air slot is created between the trailing edge of the wing and the leading edge of the flap
64
Leading Edge Flaps
Serve the same function as the trailing edge flaps and are deployed in addition to the trailing edge flaps
65
Variable Camber Leading Edge
The entire edge is mounted and drops down to increase the camber of the airfoil
66
Slots
Permanent fixtures located just aft of the leading edge of a flight surface. Delays the air separation off the top of the wing.
67
Slotted Leading Edge
Increases the angle of attack which may be maintained without stall
68
Slats
A Section of the leading edge is mounted on tracks moving forward and down creates an air slot These may be aerodynamically or mechanically controlled
69
Slotted Flight Controls
Slots located ahead of primary flight control surfaces usually ailerons Incorporated to increase roll control during slow flight
70
Airfoil
Any structure designed to manipulate the flow of a fluid to produce a reaction, which in an aircraft's case, is aerodynamic lift
71
What Kind of Stability Does the Rudder Provide?
Directional stability
72
What Kind of Stability Does the Rudder Provide?
Directional stability
73
Winglets
Near-vertical extension of the wingtip that reduces the aerodynamic drag associated with vortices that develop at the wingtips as the airplane moves through the air. Decreases fuel consumption

A&P General (18 decks)

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