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Airplane Systems Flashcards

1
Q

What are elevators?

A

Attached to horizontal stabilizer

Used to control pitch about the lateral axis

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2
Q

What are ailerons?

A

Moveable surfaces attached to trailing edge of each wing

Used to roll/bank the airplane about the longitudinal axis

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3
Q

What is the rudder?

A

Attached to the vertical stabilizer

Used to yaw the airplane about the vertical axis

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4
Q

Explain what moveable trim devices are, and what they do.

A

Small tabs attached to the trailing edge of control surfaces

Used to relieve control pressures

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5
Q

How do elevator trim tabs move?

A

Trimming nose-up causes the trim tab to move up, forcing the tail downward and the nose up
Trimming nose-down causes the trim tab to move down, forcing the tail upward and the nose down

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6
Q

What are flaps, and what is their function?

A

Moveable panels on the inboard trailing edges of the wings
Increase both lift and drag
Permit steeper descents at slower airspeeds
Can be used to shorten takeoff distances

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7
Q

Define plain flap.

A

Simplest design, hinged panel
Produces significant increase in coefficient of lift, as well as drag
CP moves aft, causing nose-down pitching moment

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8
Q

Define split flap.

A

Deflected from lower surface of airfoil

Produces slight increase in lift, but greater increase in drag (because of turbulent air behind wing)

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9
Q

Define slotted flap.

A

Increases lift coefficient significantly more than plain or split flaps
Air passing through duct created when flap is deployed delays airflow separation

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10
Q

Define Fowler flap.

A

Slotted flap that changes the camber of the wing, and increases wing area
First extension greatly increases lift
Further extensions greatly increase drag

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11
Q

What are slots and slats?

A

Direct high energy air from under the wing to over the wing, accelerating airflow and increasing lift
Slats act as moveable slots

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12
Q

What are spoilers?

A

Located on the upper surface of the wing

Used as “speed brakes” to slow the airplane down

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13
Q

Which instruments operate from the pitot-static system?

A

Airspeed indicator
Altimeter
Vertical speed indicator

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14
Q

What is an alternate static air system?

A

Draws static pressure from inside the cabin

Used if the external static port becomes blocked

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15
Q

How does an altimeter work?

A

Aneroid wafers expand/contract with changes in static pressure
Drives shaft/gear linkage

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16
Q

What errors in the altimeter are caused by temperature/pressure changes?

A

High temperature-altimeter indicates lower than actual
Low temperature-altimeter indicates higher than actual
High pressure-altimeter indicates lower than actual
Low pressure-altimeter indicates higher than actual

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17
Q

What is indicated altitude?

A

Read from altimeter set to current altimeter setting

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18
Q

What is pressure altitude?

A

Read from altimeter when set to 29.92

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19
Q

What is true altitude?

A

Actual vertical distance above sea level

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20
Q

What is density altitude?

A

Pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature

Used to calculate takeoff, climb, and landing performance

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21
Q

What is absolute altitude?

A

Vertical distance above surface/terrain

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22
Q

How does an airspeed indicator work?

A

Measures difference between impact pressure (pitot) and static pressure

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23
Q

What is a limitation of the airspeed indicator?

A

Location of pitot tube, needs uninterrupted airflow

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24
Q

What is position error, with respect to the airspeed indicator?

A

Caused by erroneous sensing of static port(s) due to slipstream

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25
What is density error, with respect to the airspeed indicator?
ASI cannot detect changes in altitude or temperature
26
What is compressibility error, with respect to the airspeed indicator?
Caused by packing of air in the pitot tube at high speeds
27
What does the lower limit of the white arc on the ASI indicate?
Vso-stalling speed in landing configuration
28
What does the upper limit of the white arc on the ASI indicate?
Vfe-maximum flap extension speed
29
What does the green arc on the ASI indicate?
Normal operating range
30
What does the lower limit of the green arc on the ASI indicate?
Vs1-clean (or specified configuration) stall speed
31
What does the upper limit of the green arc on the ASI indicate?
Vno-maximum structural cruise speed
32
What does the yellow arc on the ASI indicate?
Caution range-operations in smooth air only
33
What does the red line on the ASI indicate?
Vne-never exceed speed
34
What are some V-speeds that are not indicated on the ASI?
``` Va-design maneuvering speed Vlo-landing gear operating speed Vle-landing gear extended speed Vx-best angle of climb speed Vy-best rate of climb speed ```
35
How does a vertical speed indicator work?
Calibrated leak inside the instrument case that registers rate of pressure change
36
What is the main limitation of the vertical speed indicator?
Not accurate until aircraft is stabilized
37
Which flight instruments contain gyroscopes?
Attitude indicator Heading indicator/directional gyro Turn coordinator
38
What are the two fundamental properties of a gyroscope?
Rigidity in space | Precession
39
How are the gyroscopes powered in most modern training airplanes?
AI and DG powered by vacuum system | TC electrically powered
40
How does the vacuum system work?
Air is drawn in through a filter by an engine-driven pump, and directed to the gyroscopic instruments
41
What are some limitations of the attitude indicator?
Pitch limits of 60*-70* Bank limits of 100*-110* Exceeding limits will cause instrument to "tumble"
42
What is the main error of the heading indicator/directional gyro?
Will tend to drift from heading to which it was set | Needs to be aligned with compass periodically
43
What information does a turn coordinator show?
Approximate rate of turn | Coordination of turn
44
What is a skidding turn?
Too much rate of turn for amount of bank | Ball is to the outside of the turn
45
What is a slipping turn?
Not enough rate of turn for the amount of bank | Ball is to the inside of the turn
46
How does a magnetic compass work?
Magnetized needle, attached to card, floats in sealed bowl of white kerosene Needle aligns itself parallel to the lines of earth's magnetic force
47
What is oscillation error, with respect to a magnetic compass?
Erratic movement caused by turbulence/rough control
48
What is deviation error, with respect to the magnetic compass?
Caused by electrical/magnetic disturbances within the aircraft
49
What is variation error, with respect to the magnetic compass?
Angular difference between true and magnetic north
50
What is acceleration error, with respect to the magnetic compass?
On east or west headings, acceleration shows a turn to the north, and deceleration shows a turn to the south ANDS-Accelerate North, Decelerate South
51
What is the northerly turning error, with respect to the magnetic compass?
Compass leads in the south half of a turn, and lags in the north half of a turn UNOS-Undershoot North, Overshoot South
52
What components of a typical GA aircraft would be considered parts of the hydraulic system?
Retractable landing gear Air/oil struts Hydraulic brakes
53
What are the basic characteristics of the engine in a typical training aircraft?
``` Normally aspirated Direct drive Air cooled Horizontally opposed Carburetor/fuel injection ```
54
Describe the four strokes of a typical, piston-driven engine.
Intake-downward, fuel mixture is drawn into the cylinder Compression-upward, mixture is compressed Power-downward, mixture is ignited, forcing piston down/creating power Exhaust-upward, burned gases pushed out through the exhaust valve
55
What does a carburetor do?
Vaporizes fuel and mixes it with air to form a combustible mixture
56
How does carburetor heat work?
Unfiltered air from a shroud around the exhaust is redirected to the carburetor
57
What is fuel injection?
Fuel/air mixture is injected directly into cylinders, or into intake manifold ahead of intake valves
58
What are some advantages of fuel injection?
``` Reduction in evaporative icing Better fuel flow Faster throttle response Precise control of mixture Better fuel distribution Easier cold weather starts ```
59
What are some disadvantages of fuel injection?
Difficulty starting a hot engine/vapor lock
60
What is an alternate air induction system?
Brings airflow to engine if primary induction inlets become blocked by ice
61
What does the throttle do?
Allows pilot to control amount of fuel/air mixture going to cylinders
62
What does the mixture control do?
Regulates air/fuel ratio | Allows pilot to reduce amount of fuel to compensate for reduced air density
63
What does a turbocharger do?
Compresses air, allowing aircraft to maintain performance at higher altitudes Turbine, driven by exhaust gases, drives compressor
64
How are cowl flaps used?
Open during startup, taxi, takeoff, and climb Adjusted during cruise to maintain optimal CHT Closed during descent, approach, and landing
65
What are the two types of fixed-pitch propellers?
Climb-lower pitch, less drag, higher rpm, decreased cruise performance Cruise-higher pitch, more drag, lower, rpm, reduced climb performance
66
How does a constant speed (variable pitch) propeller work?
Engine rpm is governed by propeller blade angle | Propeller control sets limit on propeller governor which, in turn, maintains engine speed
67
Describe the components of the fuel system in a typical, low-wing, training aircraft.
``` Wing-mounted tanks Tank selector valve Inline, electrically driven fuel pump Inline fuel strainer/filter Engine driven, mechanical fuel pump ```
68
When is the electrical fuel pump typically used?
During startup When changing selected fuel tank During takeoff and climb During approach and landing
69
What is the purpose of fuel tank vents?
Allow air to enter tanks to replace the fuel that is used
70
What are the colors of the various grades of fuel?
80-red 100-green 100LL-blue Jet A-colorless/straw
71
What does the manual primer do?
Injects fuel directly into one or more cylinders, to assist in engine start
72
What equipment is powered by the aircraft electrical system?
``` Radios Turn coordinator Fuel gauges Pitot heat Interior/exterior lights Oil temperature, CHT, EGT gauges Flaps (if equipped) Landing gear pump (if equipped) ```
73
What are the advantages of dual ignition systems in aircraft engines?
Redundancy | Efficiency
74
What are the 3 most common types of oxygen systems?
Continuous flow Diluter-demand Pressure-demand
75
What is a pressurized aircraft?
Sealed fuselage Pressurized air pumped in Cabin pressure altitude of 8000' typically maintained Allows aircraft to fly at higher altitudes
76
How is cabin pressure monitored in a pressurized aircraft?
Cabin differential pressure gauge-difference between cabin/ambient pressures Cabin altimeter-used to verify system performance
77
What is the difference between a de-ice and an anti-ice system?
De-ice-eliminates ice already formed | Anti-ice-prevents ice from forming
78
What is AHRS?
Attitude and heading reference system Sensors provide heading, attitude, and yaw information Replaces vacuum-driven gyroscopic system
79
What is an ADC?
Air data computer | Receives/processes pitot-static information
80
What is a PFD?
Primary flight display | Replaces traditional "6-pack" flight instruments
81
What is an MFD?
Multi-function display | Can be used to display engine instruments, GPS, terrain awareness, etc.
82
What is an FD?
Flight director Analyzes navigation signals and aircraft parameters Provides steering instructions on the PFD
83
What is an FMS?
Flight management system | Database for programming routes, approaches, procedures, calculating time, distance, range, and fuel burn
84
Describe the position lights on an aircraft?
Red light on left wingtip Green light on right wingtip White light either on vertical stabilizer, or rear of both wingtips

CFI (800) (17 decks)

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