Fundamentals of Flight

Question 1

Explain the physics of flight?

Answer 1

Motion is the act, or process, of changing place or position; simply put, motion is movement. Motion is the basic fundamental of aviation, the 3 types of motion pertaining to flight.

Question 2

What are the 3 types of motion?

Answer 2

1. Acceleration
2. Speed
3. Velocity

Question 3

Explain acceleration?

Answer 3

The rate of change of the speed and or velocity of matter in time.

Question 4

Explain Speed?

Answer 4

The rate of movement in terms of distance measured in an allotted amount of time.

Question 5

Explain Velocity?

Answer 5

The quickness or speed of an object in a given time and direction.

Question 6

What is Newton’s first law of motion?

Answer 6

(Inertia) an object at rest will remain at rest, or an object in motion will continue in motion at the same speed and in the same direction, until acted upon by an outside force.

Question 7

What is Newton’s second law of motion?

Answer 7

(Force) If an object moving with uniform speed is acted upon by an external force, the change in motion, or acceleration, will be directly proportional to the amount of force and inversely proportional to the mass of an object being moved.

Question 8

What is Newton’s third law of motion?

Answer 8

(Action & Reaction) state that for every action there is an equal or opposite reaction.

Question 9

What is Bernoulli’s principle?

Answer 9

When a fluid flowing through a tube reaches a constriction or narrowing of the tube, the speed of the fluid passing through the constriction is increased and its pressure is decreased.

Question 10

Explain what general lift of an airfoil is?

Answer 10

It is dependent upon the airfoil’s ability to create circulation in the air stream and develop the lifting pressure over the airfoil surface. As the relative wind strikes the leading edge of the airfoil, the flow of air is split. Part of the air is deflected upward and aft, and the rest is deflected down and aft. Since the upper surface of the wing has camber, or a curve, the flow over its surface is disrupted, and this causes a wavelike effect to the wing. The lower surface is relatively flat. Lift is accomplished by the difference in the airflow across the airfoil.

Question 11

Explain the term Lift?

Answer 11

The force that acts, in an upward direction, to support the aircraft in the air. It counteracts the effects of weight. Lift must be greater than or equal to weight if flight is to be sustained.

Question 12

Explain the term Weight?

Answer 12

The force of gravity acting downward on the aircraft and everything on the aircraft.

Question 13

Explain the term Drag?

Answer 13

The force that tends to hold an aircraft back. Drag is caused by the disruption of the air about the wings, fuselage or body, and all protruding objects on the aircraft. Drag resist motion.

Question 14

Explain the term thrust?

Answer 14

The force developed by the aircraft’s engine, and acts in the forward direction. Thrust must be greater than or equal to the effects of drag in order for flight to begin or be sustained.

Question 15

How many different axis’ does an a1ircraft have?

Answer 15

3

Question 16

What are the different aircraft axis’?

Answer 16

1. Longitudinal
2. Lateral
3. Vertical

Question 17

Explain the longitudinal axis?

Answer 17

An imaginary reference line running down the center of the aircraft.

Question 18

Explain the lateral axis?

Answer 18

An imaginary reference line running parallel to the wings.

Question 19

Explain the vertical axis?

Answer 19

An imaginary reference line running from the top to the bottom of the aircraft.

Question 20

What are the 3 main control surfaces on an aircraft?

Answer 20

1. Ailerons
2. Elevators
3. Rudder

Question 21

What axis does the aileron control?

Answer 21

(Roll) longitudinal axis

Question 22

What axis does the rudder control?

Answer 22

(Yaw) vertical axis

Question 23

What axis does the elevator control?

Answer 23

(Pitch) lateral axis

Question 24

Helicopters

What does the cyclic stick control?

Answer 24

(Roll/Pitch) Tilts the plane (angle) of the rotor blades forward, aft or sideways, giving the helicopter its directional motion by changing the direction of the lift; from vertical to a varying degree based on 0 degree centerline

Question 25

Helicopters

What does the tail rotor control?

Answer 25

(Yaw) This component counteracts torgue of the main rotor by increasing or decreasing the amount of horizontal thrust the tail rotor produces, this movement is around the vertical axis.

Question 26

What are some other non axis flight controls?

Answer 26

1. Flaps
2. Spoiler
3. Speed brakes
4. Slats

Question 27

What do flaps do for an aircraft?

Answer 27

(Leading/trailing edge) Creates extra lift by lengthening the top section of the wing resulting in maximum lift to reduce takeoff runs and landing roll out.

Question 28

What do spoilers do for an aircraft?

Answer 28

Used to decrease or spoil wing lift by destroying the smooth flow of air over the wing surfaces, this creates a more predictable landing glide slope.

Question 29

What do speed brakes do for an aircraft?

Answer 29

Hinged or movable control surfaces used for reducing the speed of an aircraft. Location varies on the model of aircraft; however the purpose remains the same.

Question 30

What do slats do for an aircraft?

Answer 30

Slats are movable control surfaces attached to the leading edge of the wing. When open, or extended forward, a slot is created between the slat and the wing leading edge. High-energy air is introduced into the boundary layer over the top of the wing. At low airspeeds, this improves the lateral control handling characteristics, allowing the aircraft to be controlled at airspeeds below the normal landing speed. This is known as boundary layer control.

Question 31

What are the landing gear main components and their purpose?

Answer 31

1. Shock strut assembly - absorbs the shock that otherwise would be sustained by the airframe 2. Tires - allows the aircraft to roll easily and provides traction during takeoff and landing. 3. Wheel brake assembly - Used to slow & stop the aircraft. Also to prevent the aircraft from rolling while parked. 4. Retracting and Extending mechanism - All the necessary hardware to electrically or hydraulically extend and retract the landing gear. 5. Side struts and supports - Provides lateral strength/support for the landing gear.