General Knowledge Flashcards
Definition of an Aeroplane:
Power driven heavier-than-air aircraft deriving its lift in flight from aerodynamic reactions on surfaces that remain fixed under given conditions of flight
What is a Fuselage?
Central body of aeroplane, accommodates crew, passengers, and cargo. Wings, tail assembly, landing gear and engine are attached to it
3 Types of Fuselages:
Truss Type
Monocoque
Semi-Monocoque
Describe Truss Type Fuselage
Frame of wood beams or metal tubes, on older aircraft, covered in fabric, metal, or composite, frame carries load and fuselage stresses
Two Components of Truss Type Fuselage
Warren Truss
N Girder
Describe Monocoque Fuselage
Stressed skin structure: skin carries some of the load (perfect = all of the load) formers (maintain shape), bulkheads (carry load)
Describe Semi-Monocoque
Combination of stressed skin and formers or frame system (bulkheads)
What is a Firewall?
Stainless steel sheet separates engine compartment from rest of fuselage
What are Wings?
Aerofoils attached to fuselage, produce lift required for aeroplane to fly
6 Classifications of Airplane by Wing Type:
Mono-plane Bi-Plane Tri-Plane High-Wing Mid-Wing Low-Wing
Different Shapes of Wings:
Elliptical Rectangular Sweepback Tapered Delta
What is the Chord?
Straight line joining leading and trailing edge of wing
What is the Camber?
Upper curvature of the wing
What is the Span?
Distance from wingtip to wingtip
What is the Wing Root?
Inboard section of wing closest to fuselage
What is Load Factor?
Actual load being imposed on wings vs weight of the aircraft
Describe Spars, Ribs, and False Ribs and their importance to Wing Construction
Spars - Run from Wing Root to Tip, carry most of load in flight, prevent torsion
Ribs - Give shape to Wing
False Ribs - Smaller ribs placed between leading edge of Wing and Front Spar
Describe Drag/Anti-Drag Wires, External Struts, Wing Tip Bow, and Compressions Struts, and their importance to Wing Construction:
Drag/Anti-Drag Wires - Provide additional support
External Struts - External bracing from fuselage
Wing Tip Bow - Curved metal tube giving wingtip its shape
Compression Struts - Steel tubes placed between spars prevent compression
Name 3 Different Types of Wings (Know the Difference between them):
Two-Spar Wing
Truss-Type Wing
Web Rib Wing
What is the Difference between Semi-Cantilever and Full Cantilever Wings?
Semi-Cantilever - Bracing supported by external struts
Full Cantilever - No external bracing
What are Flaps?
Moveable control surface hinged to inboard section of trailing edge of wing, change lift/drag characteristics of wing
What are Ailerons?
Moveable surface hinged to trailing edge of wing, provides lateral control, similar construction to wing
Name the Components of the Tail Section/Empennage:
Vertical Stabilizer Rudder Rudder Trim (fixed or hinged) Horizontal Stabilizer Elevator Elevator Trim Tab
Name 3 Different Tail Variations and Describe Them:
Conventional - Trim tab located on elevator
Stabilator - No fixed horizontal stabilizer (entire surface moves), anti-servo tab installed
Canard - Horizontal stabilizer and elevator located at the front of the aircraft (almost impossible to stall)