Introduction to the Airplane

Question 1

What are the four forces that act on an airplane?

Answer 1

Lift, weight, thrust, drag

Question 2

Which force corresponds to which direction on an airplane?

Answer 2

Lift-up, weight-down, thrust-forward, drag-backwards

Question 3

Explain the Bernoulli principle

Answer 3

As the speed of the air increases, the pressure decreases.

Question 4

How does air striking the bottom of a wing produce life?

Answer 4

Increase air on the bottom of a wing pushes the wing up, producing lift

Question 5

What are the front and back of a wing called, and what is the imaginary line drawn between them

Answer 5

Leading edge, trailing edge, and wing chord

Question 6

What are the top curve and bottom curve of a wing called?

Answer 6

Upper camber and lower camber

Question 7

What is the axis of movement that passes through the length of the airplane?

Answer 7

Longitudinal axis, or roll

Question 8

What is the axis that passes through the fuselage at a right angle?

Answer 8

Lateral axis, or pitch

Question 9

What is the axis that passes through the fuselage at right angles to both the longitudinal and lateral axis?

Answer 9

Vertical axis, or yaw

Question 10

What control surface controls roll?

Answer 10

Ailerons

Question 11

What control surface controls pitch?

Answer 11

Elevator

Question 12

What control surface controls yaw?

Answer 12

Rudder

Question 13

What is the purpose of the horizontal and vertical stabilizers on the tail?

Answer 13

They help to balance the aircraft and keep it on a straight course

Question 14

What happens if you move the yoke back or forward?

Answer 14

The elevators move the airplane around the lateral axis, pitching the aircraft up or down

Question 15

What happens if you move the yoke right? Left?

Answer 15

Right - Moves the right aileron up and the left one down
Left - Moves the left aileron up and the right one down
Rotates the aircraft around the longitudinal axis

Question 16

What happens if you push the right rudder pedal? Left pedal?

Answer 16

Right - Moves the rudder to the right, deflecting the tail to the left, and moving the nose to the right
Left - Moves the rudder to the left, deflecting the tail to the right, and moving the nose to the left

Question 17

What is the function of the rudder?

Answer 17

The rudder counteracts the adverse yaw in the opposite direction that is caused by turning the plane using the ailerons.

Question 18

What is the purpose of the trim tabs?

Answer 18

To relieve the pressure needed by the pilot on the primary control surfaces, specifically on the elevator in flight or the rudder on the ground

Question 19

What is the purpose of the flaps?

Answer 19

Lowering the flaps changes the chord of the wing, increasing lift and drag.

Question 20

Why are flaps used?

Answer 20

To slow down landings and allow them to be made steeper, or to shorten the takeoff roll