Aircraft Design and General Knowledge

Question 1

What are the structural components of a light aircraft?

Answer 1

Fuselage
Empennage (tail section)
Flight Controls
Undercarriage (landing gear)
Engine and propeller
Wings

Question 2

What is the fuselage? What is connected to it?

Answer 2

Fuselage is the body of an aircraft. The wings, undercarriage, engine, and empennage.

Question 3

Fuselage must be able to absorb?

Answer 3

The forces generated by the wings and undercarriage in flight and on landing.

Question 4

What is the role of the empennage?

Answer 4

To provide stability during flight and keep aircraft on its intended path.

Question 5

What are the two stabilizers found on the empennage?

Answer 5

Horizontal and Vertical stabilizers.

Question 6

Which axis does the vertical stabilizer assist with?

Answer 6

Vertical stabilizer assists with control in yaw around the normal axis.

Question 7

What does the horizontal stabilizer assist with?

Answer 7

Horizontal stabilizer assists with control in pitch around the lateral axis.

Question 8

What are the primary flight controls (control surfaces)?

Answer 8

Ailerons
Elevator
Rudder

Question 9

What are the Secondary flight controls?

Answer 9

Flaps

Question 10

What is the role of the engine and propeller?

Answer 10

To provide thrust.

Question 11

What are Trusses?

Answer 11

Trusses are assembled to form frame.

Question 12

What is a monocoque construction?

Answer 12

Technique that supports structural load to an objects skin. (Skin takes load)

Question 13

Semi-monocoque is?

Answer 13

Internal framing that contain openings which are reinforced to maintain the integrity of the load bearing skin.

Question 14

Structural components of fuselage are?

Answer 14

Frames
Longerons
Stringers
Skin

Question 15

Structural components of wings are?

Answer 15

Spars
Ribs
Stringers
Skin

Question 16

In fuselage what do the frames do?

Answer 16

Give structure it’s shape.

Question 17

In fuselage what do the longerons do?

Answer 17

Support the frames (carry tensile load)

Question 18

In fuselage what do the stringers do?

Answer 18

Support the skin between the frames.

Question 19

In fuselage what do the skin do?

Answer 19

They’re attached to frame, longerons and stringers and give it a smooth aerodynamic shape.

Question 20

What are the wings structural components?

Answer 20

Spars
Ribs
Stringers
Skin

Question 21

In wings what do the spars do?

Answer 21

Main structure component, takes flight loads generated by wing and carry fuselage structure.

Question 22

In wings what do the ribs do?

Answer 22

Ribs give the wing its shape, they brace and support the stringers and skin.
Sometimes there is material removed for weight and/or fuel.

Question 23

In wings what do the stringers do?

Answer 23

Supports the skin

Question 24

What are the primary flight controls?

Answer 24

Rudder
Ailerons
Elevators

Question 25

Secondary flight controls are?

Answer 25

Flaps

Question 26

What do the ailerons do?

Answer 26

Roll about the longitudinal axis.

Question 27

What do the elevators do?

Answer 27

Pitch about the lateral axis.

Question 28

What do the rudders do?

Answer 28

Yaw about the normal axis (vertical axis)

Question 29

What are flaps used for?

Answer 29

Increase camber of wing.

Question 30

Lowering of the flap induces?

Answer 30

More drag

Goof for reducing landing speed and allowing steeper approaches, landing distances reduced.

Question 31

How are flight control axis controlled?

Answer 31

By moving the control column or rudder pedals. They are operated by an internal system of cables and pulleys.

Question 32

Rudder pedals use what system?

Answer 32

Pulley system.

Question 33

What are rudder pedals primary and secondary stops?

Answer 33

Primary and secondary stops are there to prevent overstressing. Primary stops are fitted to flight controls while secondary stops are on control column and are there in case primary stops fail.

Question 34

What are trim tabs used for?

Answer 34

Used to reduce pilot load, used to zero force on control column.

Question 35

Where are trim tabs located?

Answer 35

Usually located on trailing edges of control surfaces.

Question 36

Trim tabs can either be?

Answer 36

Fixed or adjustable

Question 37

What are fixed trim tabs?

Answer 37

They can only be adjusted on the ground.

Question 38

What are adjustable trim tabs?

Answer 38

They can be adjusted via internal system of cables and pulleys.

Question 39

What is the role of the landing gear (undercarriage)?

Answer 39

Absorb compression loads of landing
Support the weight of the aircraft while parked
Allow manoeuvrability while on ground

Question 40

What are the two types of landing gear?

Answer 40

Fixed

Question 41

Do fixed landing gears induce high drag?

Answer 41

Yes

Question 42

Do retractable landing gears induce high drag?

Answer 42

No

Question 43

What are the two types of landing gear wheel placement?

Answer 43

Tricycle

Tail dragger

Question 44

What is the CG of a tail dragger landing gear?

Answer 44

CG aft of undercarriage

Question 45

What is the CG fwd. of undercarriage?

Answer 45

Fwd of undercarriage

Question 46

Retractable undercarriage systems require?

Answer 46

Up and down locks
Up and down position indicators
Emergency extension method

Question 47

What are the position indicators of landing gear?

Answer 47

3 green = down and locked
No light = up and locked
Red = not where suppose to be

Question 48

What is oleo strutt?

Answer 48

Oleo strutt pneuumtic-air oil shock absorber.

Question 49

How does oleo strutt worK?

Answer 49

Uses nitrogen gas and hydroaulic fluid to absorb shock from inner cylinder to outer cylinder.
This way the compression of air absorbs weight of aircraft.

Question 50

Where are struts located?

Answer 50

Struts are located on landing gear.

Question 51

How are struts lowered and raised?

Answer 51

Using a hydraulics assisted by bungee springs.