GAK Exam Revision Flashcards
What are the gases that make up most of the atmosphere? (4)
Nitrogen - 78%
Oxygen - 21%
Argon - 1%
Carbon Dioxide - <1%
What is ISA?
15°C mean sea level temperature
- 25 hPa mean sea level pressure
- 98°C/1,000ft temperature lapse rate
What is the ISA height of the tropopause?
36,090ft
How do temperature and pressure change with respect to altitude?
Both temperature and pressure increase with altitude
What is the rate of change of pressure with altitude? (where is it greater/lesser)
Air pressure reduces with altitude most rapidly in the lower atmosphere
What are the 4 fundamental forces acting on aircraft in flight?
Lift
Weight
Thrust
Drag
What are 4 factors that affect lift?
Airflow velocity
Air density
Surface area of the wing
Wing shape and angle of attack
What is the angle of attack?
The angle between the chord line and the relative airflow
What is the centre of pressure?
The point from which lift in said to act from
What is the centre of gravity?
The point through the total weight of the aircraft is said to act
If airspeed is reduced in level flight what must you do to maintain level flight?
Increase the angle of attack by pitching the nose of the aircraft up
What happens when the angle of attack of the wing is beyond the critical angle?
Airflow can no longer conform to the curvature of the wing and the aircraft will stall
How does a pilot recover from a stall?
By pitching the nose down the angle of attack can be decreased to allow air to smoothly flow over the surface of the wing and initiate lift
Define stalling speed
The speed below which an aircraft in clean configuration can no longer maintain straight and level flight
To accelerate in a climb what must you do with thrust?
Thrust is increased and must remain greater than drag
Define mach number
The at which an aircraft is travelling in relation to the speed of sound
What does sweepback on a wing achieve?
The swept back wings delay the formation of shockwaves
Define asymmetric flight
In one engine fails in multi-engine aircraft the other has considerable leverage and induces unwanted yaw
What do flaps do?
Flaps increase lift
- increase wing area by extending from the front or rear of the wing
- increase the camber of the wing
- delays airflow separation by channeling higher energy air over the surface of the wing from below the wing
What can affect the amount of lift a wing generates?
Flaps
Slats