Technical questions Flashcards
Definition of V1?
- The speed beyond which the takeoff should no longer be aborted
- Also means the minimum speed in the takeoff, following the failure of the critical engine at VEF at which the pilot can continue the takeoff and achieve the required height above the takeoff surface within the distance available.
- V1 ≥VMCG
- V1 ≤ Vr
- V1 ≤ Vmbe (max break energy)
Vr meaning and greater than which V speeds?
- Rotation speed. The speed at which the pilot begins to apply control inputs to cause the aircraft nose to pitch up, after which it will leave the ground.
- Vr ≥ V1
- Vr = 1.05Vmca
Definition of V2?
- The airspeed at which the aircraft complies with those handling criteria associated with the climb after takeoff and the target speed to be attained at the 35’ screen height, assuming recognition of an engine failure at or after V1 and used to the point where acceleration to flap retraction speed is initiated.
- V2 = 1.2 VS
- V2 = 1.1 VMCA
Definition of Vmca?
- The minimum airspeed at which, when the sudden and complete failure of the critical engine occurs at that speed, it is possible to recover the airplane with that engine still inoperative and maintain it in straight flight at that speed, either with zero yaw or with an angle of bank not in excess of 5°.
- Must be greater than or equal to 1.2VS (with undercarriage retracted and flaps in takeoff position)
Definition of Vmcg?
-Is the minimum speed on the ground during the take off run, at which it is possible to recover control of the aircraft with the use of primary aerodynamic controls and the takeoff can be continued safely, when the critical engine suddenly becomes inoperative, with the remaining engines at takeoff thrust.
Cat C speeds?
Defined by Vat = 121-140
Initial approach 160-240
Final Approach 115-160
Circling Max 180
Initial Missed 160
Final Missed 240
Performance Group A aircraft? (Not Cat A)
- “capable of continuing a flight in IMC after failure of a critical engine at speed V1 & proceeding to a suitable aerodrome & landing’
What is a stopway?
- Clear area immediately beyond runway & at least as wide capable of supporting aircraft for braking
What is a Clearway?
- Clear area immediately beyond runway over which aircraft may fly at height of 35ft
What is the ASDA?
- Accelerate-stop distance available
- Is the combined distance of runway and stop-way
Balanced field length?
- ASDR = TODR
- A balanced field takeoff is a condition where the accelerate-stop distance required (ASDR) is equal to the takeoff distance required (TODR) for the aircraft weight, engine thrust, aircraft configuration and runway condition.
Factors affecting the balanced field length include:
the mass of the aircraft – higher mass results in slower acceleration and higher takeoff speed
engine thrust – affected by temperature and air pressure, but reduced thrust can also be deliberately selected by the pilot
density altitude – reduced air pressure or increased temperature increases minimum take off speed
aircraft configuration such as wing flap position
runway slope and runway wind component
runway conditions – a rough or soft field slows acceleration, a wet or icy field reduces braking
How is ASDA calculated?
Distance to accelerate to V1 – 1 sec recognition – 2 sec transition phase – distance to bring aircraft to a stop
How is TORR calculated? (TORR = Takeoff Run Required)
- Is distance required to accelerate to V1 – engine fail – continue to midway between VLOF & 35ft point
- Vlof = lift off speed
State the climb segments
1st segment
35 ft to gear retracted (+ve roc)
2nd segment
End of 1st segment to 400 ft or higher flap retract height; at V2 (2.4% climb gradient req’d)
3rd segment
End of 2nd segment level acceleration to final climb speed (climb gradient cabability of
1.2%)
4th segment
End of 3rd segment to 1500 ft; at > 1.25 VS (min. climb gradient of 1.2%)
For V2 over-speed take offs what are the obstacle considerations
Close in obstacle clearance reduced
Distant obstacles cleared better due to higher speed
What is the advantage of an increased V2
An improved climb gradient
An increase in Take off weight
The Net take off flight path is deemed to end when
The aircraft passes 1500 ft
Explain the use of an extended second segment climb
Rather than retract flap in the 3rd segment the flaps are kept down, and on reaching the 5 min take off thrust time the power is set to MCT. After which the flaps are then retracted, this allows for improved climb gradient but is only to be used for obstacles within the 2nd & 3rd segment, the aircraft must be ‘clean’ by the 400 ft point if obstacle clearance is required in the final segment
Reduced thrust take off’s are dependant on
Field length
Take off flight path (obstacles)
Engine inop climb gradients
Aircraft Take off weight
What is the reduced screen height for a wet take-off
15ft (slightly less than half of 35ft)
( It is because the stopping distance in the wet is longer than in the dry. V1, therefore, is lower. Lower screen height therefore reqd..)
State the critical engine on a jet during take-off
Nil in head wind
The most upwind engine in x-wind due to increased yaw if engine fails (weather cocking)
What effect does a balanced field have on take-off performance
A balanced field means that it is critical that an abort is carried out immediately on EF recognition. Also that the t/o on one engine could be marginal if continued as a balanced field is a take off right on the performance limits for the given aircraft weight – not a favourable scenario
Definition of 2nd segment of take-off path:
From gear retraction to level acceleration altitude, which is normally a minimum of 400’ above the takeoff surface. In this segment the gear is retracted, the flaps are in the takeoff
position and the aircraft is set in takeoff power. The speed is equal to V2 (initial climb out speed) and the required minimum gross gradient of climb, in a two engined aircraft, is 2.4%. The net flight path gradient is the gross flight path gradient reduced by 0.8%, i.e. 1.6%.
Conditions:
Landing gear is retracted
The flaps are still in the takeoff position
The speed is V2
The minimum gross climb gradient in a twin engined aircraft is 2.4%
The minimum net climb gradient in a twin engined aircraft is 1.6%; and
Takeoff power is still set.
Definition of ISA:
1013.25 hPa
15°C
Lapse Rate is 1.98°C per 1000’ up to 36 090’ then –56.5°C
Density is 1.225 kg/m3
Temperature at 39 000’?
-56.5°C
How does temperature affect the speed of sound?
The speed of sound is directly proportional to the square root of the absolute temperature (the speed of sound will increase with an increase in temperature).
LSS = 38.94√K
At sea level ISA: LSS = 661kts.
At 35,000’ ISA: LSS = 575kts.
Airspeed in the climb – at a constant TAS / IAS / Mach No. What do each do?
Constant IAS – Both TAS & Mach No. increase
Constant Mach No – Both IAS & TAS decrease
Constant TAS – Mach No. increases, IAS decreases
What happens to the speed of sound with altitude / temperature
LSS reduces with altitude and with cooling temperatures
Mach Number formula
M = TAS/LSS
TAS = True Airspeed
LSS = Local speed of sound (38.94 Temp (K))
Explain airspeed errors
ICE T it’s a P C D
I = IAS C = CAS (IAS corrected for Position errors) E = EAS (CAS corrected for Compressibiliity errors) T = TAS (EAS corrected for Density errors)
What errors does a Mach Meter NOT suffer from?
Density error & Compressibility error.
- Compressibility is not an error of the Machmeter. It’s taken care of by the ratio arm and the ranging arm giving us the ratio of TAS/LSS and taking the density of the air out of the equation.
The two capsules in a Mach Meter are what?
Airspeed (TAS)
Altitude calibration. (LSS)
(M = TAS/LSS )
MFS is
Free stream Mach number – airflow unaffected by the aircraft
Mach L is
Local Mach number – is the speed of air relative to the Local Speed of Sound measured at a point on the aircraft
MCRIT is
The lowest free stream Mach number at which mach 1 is reached on any part of the
aircraft
- Part of the aerofoil may be travelling faster than the speed of sound but not all of it
How does weight affect MCRIT?
An increase in weight will reduce MCRIT.
lower Mcrit is bad for commercial jets
What happens with the centre of pressure leading up to super sonic flight
The CP is well forward (below MCRIT)
The CP moves rearward (In excess of MCRIT)
The CP moves forward (MCRIT – MFS >M1)
The CP gradually moves further rearward as speed increases further
(forward then back then forward movement is known as the mach ‘tuck’)
Wave drag is
The separation of the airflow behind the shock wave
- Shock wave can usually begins from the trailing edge of the wing
- Expansion wave usually occurs over the aerofoil behind the shock wave
A shock stall is the result of
The boundary layer behind the shock wave becoming turbulent and separating, spilling rearwards and striking the tail plane, creating buffet and rearward CP movement. Rear movement of the CP causes nose to pitch down
- Vmo protects the aircraft from high-speed buffet which could result in high-speed buffet
Wing design for high speed flight takes into consideration
Minimal camber to delay shockwaves
Maneuverability
Low thickness chord ratio
The primary purpose of sweep back is to
Increase the value of the critical Mach No.
How does sweep back work
By sweeping the wing the freestream air that travels along the effective chord is less therefore less acceleration is achieved resulting in a lower speed over the wing and a higher achievable aircraft speed before Mcrit is reached.
Advantages of a swept wing?
MCRIT increased.
Higher economical cruise speed
Increased lateral (roll) stability
Disadvantages of sweepback
Lower Cl
Extensive use of high lift devices (slats, flaps)
High drag @ high AOA
Use of vortex generators, wing fences to reduce wingtip ‘pooling’
A swept wing aircraft pitches up / down at a stall
A nose pitch up results from the wing tips stalling first moving the CP inwards and forwards (wash out is used to try and prevent tip stalls)
Wash out is
A decrease in incidence from root to tip – to prevent wing tip stall
Allows ailerons to maintain effectiveness for longer
What devices are used to prevent wing tip stall (spanwise flow)?
Wing fence
Saw tooth leading edge
Vortex generators
What happens to the center of pressure in a stall in a swept wing aircraft?
Tips will stall first so CP moves inward and forwards & nose tends to pitch up
During a turn what happens to the CP of a swept wing Aircraft
As the wing gets higher in a turn the outer portion become higher than the inner portion which creates its own form of washout resulting in a lower AOA and causing the CP to move inwards and pitch the nose upwards.
Aspect ratio
= span (width)/ chord (length)
High Aspect ratio (subsonic speeds)
Better lift
Better lift/drag ratio
Less induced drag due reduced wing tip vortices
What is Mach tuck?
Is when the aircraft is accelerated through the transonic range causing the CP to move rearwards and increasing the lift generated by the tail plane due to modified airflow from the wing causing a nose pitch down.
If Mach tuck is not corrected the result will be?
The nose pitch down causes further speed increase which causes further movement rearwards of the CP which causes further nose pitch down…..etc
Oscillatory instability is
A combined yawing and rolling movement
Dutch roll is
Oscillatory instability when the rolling motion is predominant
A stabilising device to prevent Dutch roll is
A yaw damper (gyroscopically operated stabilisers)
Snaking is
Oscillatory instability when the yawing motion is predominant
Oscillatory instability is worse when
At high altitudes
sweep back a/c @ low IAS
The aircraft’s aerodynamic ceiling is
The point at which the high airspeed mach buffet and low speed stall buffet merge
The aerodynamic ceiling of the aircraft is known as
Coffin Corner (A/C can not be made to go faster or slower)
The manoeuvre envelope must be
At an altitude and airspeed sufficient to avoid stalling and slow enough to avoid structural damage
Gliding angle depends on
Ratio of lift to drag ratio – greater weight does not effect gliding angle or range, does effect speed
Aircraft in a constant descent @ 300kts, how does weight affect glide angle?
The heavier the aircraft the earlier descent must commence. So the more shallow the glide angle.