Introduction to the Airplane Flashcards
What are the four forces that act on an airplane?
Lift, weight, thrust, drag
Which force corresponds to which direction on an airplane?
Lift-up, weight-down, thrust-forward, drag-backwards
Explain the Bernoulli principle
As the speed of the air increases, the pressure decreases.
How does air striking the bottom of a wing produce life?
Increase air on the bottom of a wing pushes the wing up, producing lift
What are the front and back of a wing called, and what is the imaginary line drawn between them
Leading edge, trailing edge, and wing chord
What are the top curve and bottom curve of a wing called?
Upper camber and lower camber
What is the axis of movement that passes through the length of the airplane?
Longitudinal axis, or roll
What is the axis that passes through the fuselage at a right angle?
Lateral axis, or pitch
What is the axis that passes through the fuselage at right angles to both the longitudinal and lateral axis?
Vertical axis, or yaw
What control surface controls roll?
Ailerons
What control surface controls pitch?
Elevator
What control surface controls yaw?
Rudder
What is the purpose of the horizontal and vertical stabilizers on the tail?
They help to balance the aircraft and keep it on a straight course
What happens if you move the yoke back or forward?
The elevators move the airplane around the lateral axis, pitching the aircraft up or down
What happens if you move the yoke right? Left?
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
What happens if you push the right rudder pedal? Left pedal?
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
What is the function of the rudder?
The rudder counteracts the adverse yaw in the opposite direction that is caused by turning the plane using the ailerons.
What is the purpose of the trim tabs?
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
What is the purpose of the flaps?
Lowering the flaps changes the chord of the wing, increasing lift and drag.
Why are flaps used?
To slow down landings and allow them to be made steeper, or to shorten the takeoff roll
