Airplane Systems Flashcards
List the primary flight controls
(AFM/POH) Elevator, Ailerons, and Rudder
List the secondary flight controls
(AFM/POH) Flaps, Leading Edge Devices, and Spoilers
What are flaps and what is their purpose?
(FAA-H-8083-25) Flaps are movable panels on inboard trailing edges of wings. Purpose is to increase induced drag and lift, to permit slower airspeeds and a steeper angle of descent during a landing approach.
What are examples of leading edge lift devices?
(FAA-H-8083-25)
Slots: A slow directs high-energy air from under the wing to the airflow above the wing, accelerating upper airflow, and delaying airflow separation to higher angles of attack.
Slats: Miniature airfoil mounted on leading edge and can be fixed or movable. At low angles of attack, movable slat are held flush by positive pressure. At high angles of attack, move forward by pilot or automatically by low pressure gradient. Provides same results at slows.
What are spoilers?
(FAA-H-8083-31) Spoilers are devices located on upper surface of wing and reduce lift by spoiling airflow. Can also be used as speed brakes in flight and on the ground.
What instruments operate from the pitot-static system
(FAA-H-8083-15) The pitot-static system operates the altimeter, vertical speed indicator, and airspeed indicator
How does an altimeter work?
(FAA-H-8083-15) Sensitive altimeter is an aneroid barometer that measure absolute pressure of ambient air above a selected pressure level. Sensitive element is a stack of evacuated, corrugated bronze aneroid capsules. Air pressure acting on these aneroid tries to compress them against their natural springiness.
Pressure altimeter is subject to what limitations?
(FAA-H-8083-15) Non-standard temperature and pressure
a. Temperature: Warm day pressure level is higher than on a standard day, indicates lower than actual; Cold day pressure level is lower than on a standard day, indicates higher than actual.
b. Pressure: Higher than standard, indicates lower than actual; Lower than standard, indicates higher than actual
High to Low or hot to cold, look out below!
What is Indicated Altitude?
(FAA-H-8083-25) Indicated altitude is the altitude read directly from the altimeter after it is set to the current altimeter setting.
What is Pressure Altitude?
(FAA-H-8083-25) Pressure altitude is the height above standard datum plane indicated when the altimeter setting is adjusted to 29.92”
What is True Altitude?
(FAA-H-8083-25) True Altitude is the vertical distance of the aircraft above sea level
What is Density Altitude?
(FAA-H-8083-25) Density Altitude is pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature. Directly related to aircraft’s performance.
What is Absolute Altitude?
(FAA-H-8083-25) Absolute Altitude is vertical distance of aircraft above terrain, or above ground level (AGL).
How does the airspeed indicator operate?
(FAA-H-8083-25) Airspeed indicator is a sensitive differential pressure gauge which measure the difference between impact pressure from pitot head and undisturbed pressure from the static source. Difference is airspeed.
What are limitations of Airspeed Indicator?
(FAA-H-8083-25) Airspeed indicator is subject to proper flow of air in the pitot-static system
Airspeed Indicator is subject to what errors?
(FAA-H-8083-25)
Position Error: Caused by static ports sensing erroneous static pressure
Density Error: Changes in altitude and temperature are not compensated by instrument
Compressibility Error: Caused by packing of air into pitot tube at high airspeeds, resulting in higher than normal indication.
What is Indicated Airspeed (IAS)?
(FAA-H-8083-25) Indicated Airspeed is the speed read directly from the instrument without any corrections for indicator, position or compressibility errors.
What is Calibrated Airspeed (CAS?)
(FAA-H-8083-25) Calibrated Airspeed is the airspeed corrected for position and instrument errors.
What is Equivalent Airspeed (EAS)?
(FAA-H-8083-25) Equivalent Airspeed is the airspeed corrected for position, instrument error, and for compressible flow error. Equivalent to CAS at sea level.
What is True Airspeed (TAS)?
(FAA-H-8083-25) True Airspeed is Calibrated Airspeed corrected for altitude and non-standard temperature.
What airspeed limitation is indicated by the White Arc?
(FAA-H-8083-25) The airspeed White Arc is the flap operating range. Lower limit is Vs0 speed, stall speed in landing configuration. Upper limit is maximum flap extended Vfe speed.
What airspeed limitation is indicated by the Green Arc?
(FAA-H-8083-25) The airspeed Green Arc is the normal operating range. Lower limit is Vs1, stall speed in clean configuration. Upper limit is maximum structural cruise Vno.
What airspeed limitation is indicated by the Yellow Arc?
(FAA-H-8083-25) The airspeed Yellow Arc is the caution range.
What airspeed limitation is indicated by the Red line?
(FAA-H-8083-25) The airspeed Red Line is the never exceed speed, Vne.
What are examples of important airspeed limitations that are not marked on the airspeed indicator?
(FAA-H-8083-25)
a. Design Maneuvering Speed, Va
b. Landing Gear Operating Speed, Vlo
c. Landing Gear Extended Speed, Vle
d. Best Angle of Climb Speed, Vx
e. Best Rate of Climb Speed, Vy
How does the Vertical Airspeed Indicator work?
(FAA-H-8083-15) The VSI is a pressure differential instrument. Inside the instrument is an aneroid, and both it and the case are vented to static system. The case is vented through a calibrated orifice that causes it to change more slowly than the aneroid.
What are the limitations of the Vertical Airspeed Indicator?
(FAA-H-8083-25) The VSI is not accurate until the aircraft is stabilized. Sudden or abrupt changes will cause erroneous readings as airflow fluctuates over the static port.
Which instruments contain gyroscopes?
(FAA-H-8083-25) Turn coordinator, heading indicator, attitude indicator.
What are two fundamental properties of a gyroscope?
(FAA-H-8083-25)
Rigidity in Space: Gyroscope remains fixed in a fixed position
Precession: Turning of a gyro in response to a deflective force
How are gyroscopes powered?
(FAA-H-8083-25)
Vacuum or Pressure: Heading indicator, Attitude Indicator
Electrically: Turn Coordinator
How does the vacuum system operate?
(FAA-H-8083-25) Air is drawn into the vacuum system by the engine driven vacuum pump. First goes through a filter, then any instruments and finally the pump.
How does the attitude indicator work?
(FAA-H-8083-25) The attitude indicator’s gyro is mounted on a horizontal plane which represents the true horizon and depends upon rigidity in space for its operation. The gyro remains in a horizontal plane as the aircraft is pitched or banked, indicating the attitude of the aircraft relative to the true horizon.
What are the limits of the attitude indicator?
(FAA-H-8083-25) Pitch and bank limits depend upon make and model of the instrument. Bank limits are usually from 100° to 110°. Pitch limits are usually from 60° to 70°. If either is exceeded, the instrument will tumble or spin giving incorrect indications until reset.
What errors is the attitude indicator subject to?
(FAA-H-8083-25) Attitude indicator is free from most errors. Depending on the speed of the erection system, there may be a slight nose up indication during a rapid acceleration and a nose down indication during a rapid deceleration. There is a possibility of small bank and pitch error after a 180° turn. All will self correct.
How does the Heading Indicator operate?
(FAA-H-8083-25) The heading indicator’s gyro is mounted on a vertical plane and is fixed to a compass card. The gyro remains fixed in the vertical plane as the aircraft yaws around its vertical axes, indicating the heading the aircraft is on.
What are the limits of the heading indicator?
(FAA-H-8083-25) Limits depend on the make and model of the instrument. Large pitch and banks greater than 55° may cause the instrument to indicate an incorrect heading.
What errors is the heading indicator subject to?
(FAA-H-8083-25) Heading indicator is subject to precession. Precession is primarily caused by friction and this will cause the heading indicator to drift from its set position. Another error is caused by the fact the gyro is oriented in space and the Earth rotates in space at a rate of 15° per hour.
How does the turn coordinator operate?
(FAA-H-8083-25) Turn part of the instrument uses precession to indicate direction and rate of turn. The slip/skid indicator is a liquid filled tube with a ball that reacts to centrifugal force and gravity.
What information does a turn coordinator provide?
(FAA-H-8083-25) Turn coordinator shows roll and yaw of the aircraft. The miniature airplane indicates the direction and rate of turn. The inclinometer indicates the coordination of the aileron and rudder, and indicates whether the airplane is in coordinated flight or in a skid or slip.
What will the turn coordinator indicate when the aircraft is uncoordinated?
(FAA-H-8083-25)
Skid: Ball will be to the outside of the turn, too much rate of turn for the amount of bank
Slip: Ball will be on the inside of the turn, not enough rate of turn for the amount of bank.
How does magnetic compass work?
(FAA-H-8083-25) Magnetized needles fastened to a float assembly around which is mounted a compass card, align themselves parallel to earth’s line of magnetic fields. Float is housed in bowl filled with acid free white kerosene.
What are the limits of the magnetic compass?
(FAA-H-8083-15) The jewel and pivot type mounting allows the float freedom to rotate and tilt up and at steep bank angles the compass indications are erratic and upredictable.
What errors is the magnetic compass subject to?
(FAA-H-8083-15)
Oscillation Error: Erratic movement caused by turbulence or rough control
Deviation Error: Due to electrical and magnetic disturbances in the aircraft
Variation Error: Angular difference between true and magnetic north
Acceleration Error: On East or West headings when accelerating shows a turn to the north, when decelerating shows a turn to the south (ANDS)
Northerly Turning Error: Compass leads in south half of turn, and lags in north half of turn (UNOS)
What are examples of hydraulic systems on an aircraft?
a. Retractable landing gear
b. Brakes
c. Shock struts