Performance And Limitations Flashcards
What flight condition will result in the four forces being equal?
Straight and level in accelerated flight
What are the four dynamic forces that act on an airplane durning all maneuvers?
Thrust
Lift
Gravity
Drag
What is airfoil? State some examples.
A shape that creates lift
Wings, props, vertical tail surfaces
What is an angle of incidence?
Measure by which the wing is attached to the fuselage. Fixed measurement
What is relative wind?
Relative airflow with respect to the wing
What is the angle of attack?
Angle of the wing chord line and direction of the relative wind.
What is Bernoulli’s Principle?
High pressure seeks low pressure.
Airfoil is shaped so that air flow increases in velocity above the wing creating low pressure.
What are several factors that with effect both lift and drag?
Wing area Shape of an airfoil Angle of attack Velocity of air Air density
What is torque effect?
The engine and prop creating force in one direct creates a force moving in the opposite direction.
What effect does torque direction have on the airplane on the ground and in flight?
Tendency to roll to the left
What are the for factors that contribute to torque effect?
Engine power
Thrust from prop striking the tail
Asymmetrical p-factor
Gyroscopic procession
What is centrifugal force?
Equal and opposite force of the airplane to the change in direction and acts equal and opposite to horizontal component of lift
What is load factor?
Force of gravity
For what two reasons is load factor important to pilots?
Stressing of the airframe, causing breaks.
Increase in stall speeds
What situations can lead to an increase in load factor being reached or exceeded?
Level turns
Turbulence
Speed
What are the different operational categories are the for aircraft and under which does your aircraft fall?
Normal
Utility
Aerobatic
Define the term maneuvering speed.
Maximum speed at which abrupt control movement can be applied or which airplane can be flow through turbulence without exceeding load factor limits.
Discuss the effect of maneuvering speed of an increase or decrease in weight.
Increase = slower maneuvering speed Decrease = faster
What causes an airplane to stall?
Exceeding critical angle of attack
What is a spin?
Result of an uncoordinated stall
What is the procedure to recover from an inadvertent spin? PARE
Power - idle
Ailerons - neutral
Rudder - full opposite
Elevator - briskly forward
What causes adverse yaw?
Undesired veering in the opposite direction of a turn.
What is ground effect?
Condition of improved performance when operating close to the ground. Experienced just before a flare should be implemented when landing
What major problems can be caused by ground effect?
During landing: significant float distance if any excess airspeed.
During takeoff: aircraft may seem to be capable of takeoff below the recommended speed. Take extra note if high temperature, gross weight, or density altitude.
Define empty weight.
The weight of the aircraft itself, including all fluids except for usable fuel and oil.
Define gross weight.
Maximum allowable weight of both the airplane and it’s contents
Define useful load.
Weight of the pilot, copilot, passengers, baggage, usable fuel, and drain able oil.
Define arm.
Horizontal distance in inches from the reference datum line to the center of gravity of the item
Define moment.
Product of weight and arm of an item. Pounds/inches.
Define center of gravity
Point where aircraft should balance if suspended from that point. Inches from datum.
Define datum
Imaginary vertical plane from which all measurements of arm are taken. Established by manufacturer.
What basic equation is used in all weight and balance problems?
WAM
weight x arm = moment
Arm (CG) = (total) moment / (total) weight
What performance characteristics will be adversely affected when an aircraft has been overloaded? Name at least 4.
Higher takeoff speed Longer takeoff run Reduced rate and angle of climb Lower maximum altitude Shorter range Reduced cruising speed Reduced maneuverability Higher stalling speed Higher landing speed Longer landing roll Excessive weight on nose wheel
What effect does a forward center of gravity have on an aircraft’s flight characteristics?
Higher stall speed
Slower cruise speed
More stable
Greater back elevator required
What effect does a rearward center of gravity have on an aircraft’s flight characteristics?
Lower stall speed
Higher cruise speed
Less stable
What are the standard weights assumed for the following when calculating weight and balance:
Crew and passengers
Gasoline
Oil
Water
People - 170 lbs
Gasoline - 6 lbs/gal
Oil - 7.5 lbs/gal
Water - 8.35 lbs/gal
What are some of the main elements for aircraft performance? At least four.
Takeoff and landing distance Rate of climb Ceiling Payload Range Speed Fuel economy
What factors affect the performance of an aircraft durning takeoffs and landings?
Air density Surface wind Runway surface Slope of runway Weight
What affect does wind have on takeoff?
Headwind - better performance caused by increased air flow over the wing
Tailwind - decrease in performance in takeoff distance and angle of time.
What affect does wind have on landings?
Headwinds - increased performance by steepening approach angle and reducing landing distance.
Tailwinds - decreased performance by decreasing the approach angle and increasing landing distance.
What affect does wind have on cruise flight?
Headwinds - decreased performance, reducing ground speed and increasing fuel requirements
Tailwinds - increased performance, increasing ground speed and reducing fuel requirements.
What affect does an increase in density altitude have on takeoff and landing performance?
Increased takeoff distance
Reduced rate of climb
Increased true airspeed on approach and landing
Increased landing roll distance
Define the term density altitude.
Pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature.
How does air density affect aircraft performance?
Lift produced by wings
Power output by engine
Propeller efficiency
Drag forces
What factors affect air density?
Altitude - higher = less dense
Temperature - higher = less dense
Humidity - higher = less dense
What is Vs0?
Stall speed in landing configuration.
What is Vs1?
Stall speed in clean configuration
What is Vy
Best rate of climb speed
What is Vx?
Best angle of climb speed
What is Vle?
Maximum landing gear extension speed
What is Vlo?
Maximum landing gear operating speed
What is Vfe?
Maximum flap extension speed
What is Va?
Maneuvering speed
What is Vno?
Normal operating speed
What is Vne?
Never exceed speed
