Chapter 2: Aircraft Systems

Question 1

During the preflight inspection, who is responsible for determining if the aircraft is safe for flight?
A - the pilot-in-command
B - the owner or operator
C - the certified mechanic who performed the annual inspection

Answer 1

A - the pilot-in-command

Question 2

How should an aircraft preflight inspection be accomplished for the first flight of the day?
A - Quick walk around with a check of gas and oil
B - Thorough and systematic means recommended by the manufacturer
C - any sequence as determined by thr pilot-in-command

Answer 2

B - Thorough and systematic means recommended by the manufacturer

Question 3

Who is primarily responsible for maintaining aircraft in airworthy condition?
A - Pilot-in-command
B - Owner or operator
C - Mechanic

Answer 3

B - Owner or operator

Question 4

The minimum allowable strength of a towline used for an aerotow of a glider having a certified gross weight of 700 pounds is
A - 560 pounds
B - 700 pounds
C - 1,000 pounds

Answer 4

A - 560 pounds

Question 5

The minimum allowable strength of a towline used for an aerotow of a glider having a certified gross weight of 1,040 pounds is
A - 502 pounds
B - 832 pounds
C - 1,040 pounds

Answer 5

B - 832 pounds

Question 6

When using a towline having a breaking strength more than twice the maximum certified operating weight of the glider, an approved safety link must be installed at what point(s)?
A - only the point where the towline is attached to the glider
B - the point where the towline is attached to the glider and the point of attachment of the towline to the towplane
C - only the point where the towline is attached to the towplane

Answer 6

B - the point where the towline is attached to the glider and the point of attachment of the towline to the towplane

Question 7

For the aerotow of a glider that weighs 700 pounds, which towrope tensile strength would require the use of safety links at each end of the rope?
A - 850 pounds
B - 1,040 pounds
C - 1,450 pounds

Answer 7

C - 1,450 pounds

Question 8

What force provides the forward motion necessary to move a glider through the air?
A - lift
B - centripetal force
C - gravity

Answer 8

C - gravity

Question 9

To obtain maximum distance over the ground, the airspeed to use is the
A - minimum control speed
B - best lift/drag speed
C - minimum sink speed

Answer 9

B - best lift/drag speed

Question 10

What effect would gusts and turbulence have on the load factor of a glider with changes in airspeed?
A - load factor decreases as airspeed increases
B - load factor increases as airspeed increases
C - load factor increases as airspeed decreases

Answer 10

B - load factor increases as airspeed increases

Question 11

A sail plane has a best glide ratio of 23:1. How many feet will the glider lose in 8 nautical miles?
A - 1,840 feet
B - 2,100 feet
C - 2,750 feet

Answer 11

B - 2,100 feet

Question 12

A sailplane has a best glide ratio of 30:1. How many nautical miles will the glider travel while losing 2,000 feet?
A - 10 nautical miles
B - 15 nautical miles
C - 21 nautical miles

Answer 12

A - 10 nautical miles

Question 13

A sailplane has lost 2,000 ft in 9 nautical miles. The best glide ratio for the sailplane is approximately
A - 24:1
B - 27:1
C - 30:1

Answer 13

B- 27:1

Question 14

How many feet will a sailplane sink in 15 nautical miles if it’s lift/drag ratio is 22:1?
A - 2,700
B - 3,600
C - 4,100

Answer 14

C - 4,100 feet

Question 15

How many feet will a glider sink in 10 nautical miles if its lift/drag ratio is 23:1?
A - 2,400
B - 2,600
C - 4,300

Answer 15

B - 2,600 feet

Question 16

What minimum upward current must a glider encounter to maintain altitude?
A - at least two feet per second
B - the same as the glider’s sink rate
C - the same as the adjacent down currents

Answer 16

A - at least two feet per second

Question 17

On which side of a rocky knoll that is surrounded by vegetation should a pilot find the best thermals?
A - on the side facing the sun
B - on the downwind side
C - exactly over the center

Answer 17

A - on the side facing the sun

Question 18

What is one recommended method for locating thermals?
A - fly an ever-increasing circular path
B - maintain a straight track downwind
C - look for converging streamers of dust or smoke

Answer 18

C - look for converging streamers of dust or smoke

Question 19

What is a recommended procedure for entering a dust devil for soaring?
A - enter above 500 ft and circle the edge in the same direction as the rotation
B - enter below 500 ft and circle the edge opposite the direction of rotation
C - enter at or above 500 ft and circle the edge opposite the direction of rotation

Answer 19

C - enter at or above 500 ft and circle the edge opposite the direction of rotation

Question 20

What is an important precaution when soaring in a dust devil?
A - avoid the eye of the vortex
B - avoid the clear area at the outside edge of the dust
C - maintain the same direction as the rotation of the vortex

Answer 20

A - avoid the eye of the vortex

Question 21

What is the best visual indication of a thermal?
A - fragmented cumulus clouds with concave bases
B - smooth cumulus clouds with concave bases
C - scattered to broken sky with cumulus clouds

Answer 21

B - smooth cumulus clouds with concave bases

Question 22

How can a pilot locate bubble thermals?
A - look for what areas where recent showers have occurred
B - look for birds that are soaring in areas of intermittent heating
C - fly the area just above the boundary of a temperature inversion

Answer 22

B - look for birds that are soaring in areas of intermittent heating

Question 23

Where may the most favorable type thermals for cross country soaring be found?
A - just ahead of a warm front
B - along thermal streets
C - undermountain waves

Answer 23

B - along thermal streets

Question 24

Where and under what condition can enough lift be found for soaring when the weather is generally stable?
A - on the upwind side of hills or ridges with moderate winds present
B - in mountain waves that form on the upwind side of the mountains
C - over isolated peaks when strong winds are present

Answer 24

A - on the upwind side of hills or ridges with moderate winds present

Question 25

Which is an advantage of using a CG hook for a winch toe rather than the nose hook?
A - a greater percent of the line length can be used to reach altitude
B - maximum release altitude is limited
C - it is the safest method of launching

Answer 25

A - a greater percent of the line length can be used to reach altitude

Question 26

To stop pitch oscillation (porpoising) during a winch launch, the pilot should
A - release back pressure and then pull back against the cycle of pitching oscillation to get in phase with the undulations
B - signal the ground crew to increase the speed of the tow
C - relax the back pressure on the control stick and shallow the angle of climb

Answer 26

C - relax the back pressure on the control stick and shallow the angle of climb

Question 27

What corrective action should the sailplane pilot take during takeoff if the towplane is still on the ground and the sailplane is airborne and drifting to the left?
A - crab into the wind by holding upwind (right) rudder pressure
B - crab into the wind so as to maintain a position directly behind the towplane
C - establish a right wing low drift correction to remain in the flight path of the towplane

Answer 27

B - crab into the wind so as to maintain a position directly behind the towplane

Question 28

An indication at the glider has begun a turn too soon on aerotow is that the
A - gliders nose is pulled to the outside of the turn
B - towplane’s nose is pulled to the outside of the turn
C - towplane will pick up

Answer 28

B - towplane’s nose is pulled to the outside of the turn

Question 29

The sailplane has become airborne and the towplane loses power before leaving the ground. The sailplane should release immediately,
A - and maneuver to the right of the runway
B - extend the spoilers, and land straight ahead
C - and maneuver to the left of the towplane

Answer 29

A - and maneuver to the right of the runway

Question 30

What should a glider pilot do if a towline breaks below 200 ft AGL?
A - turn into the wind, then back to the runway for a downwind landing
B - turn away from the wind, then back to the runway for a downwind landing
C - land straight ahead or make slight turns to reach a suitable landing area

Answer 30

C - land straight ahead or make slight turns to reach a suitable landing area

Question 31

A pilot unintentionally enters a steep diving spiral to the left. What is the proper way to recover from this attitude without overstressing the glider?
A - apply up-elevator pressure to raise the nose
B - apply more up-elevator pressure and then use right aileron pressure to control the over-banking tendency
C - relax the back pressure and shallow the bank; then apply up-elevator pressure until the nose has been raised to the desired position

Answer 31

C - relax the back pressure and shallow the bank; then apply up-elevator pressure until the nose has been raised to the desired position

Question 32

What corrective action should be taken if, while thermaling at minimum sync speed and turbulent air, the left wing drops while turning to the left?
A - apply more opposite (right) aileron pressure than opposite (right) rudder pressure to counteract the over banking tendency
B - apply opposite (right) rudder pressure to slow the rate of turn
C - lower the nose before applying opposite (right) aileron pressure

Answer 32

C - lower the nose before applying opposite (right) aileron pressure

Question 33

A sailplane pilot can differentiate between a spin and a spiral dive because in a spiral dive,
A - the speed remains constant
B - the G loads increase
C - there is a small loss of altitude in each rotation

Answer 33

B - the G loads increase

Question 34

How are forward slips normally performed?
A - with the direction of slip away from any crosswind that exists
B - with dive breaks or spoilers fully open
C - with rudder and aileron deflection on the same side

Answer 34

B - with dive breaks or spoilers fully open

Question 35

What would be a proper action or procedure to use if the pilot is getting too low on a cross-country flight in a sale plane?
A - continue on course until the ending to 1,000 ft above the ground and then plan the landing approach
B - fly directly into the wind and make a straight-in approach at the end of the glide
C - have a suitable landing area selected upon reaching 2,000 ft AGL, and a specific field chosen upon reaching 1500 ft AGL

Answer 35

C - have a suitable landing area selected upon reaching 2,000 ft AGL, and a specific field chosen upon reaching 1500 ft AGL