Theory of Flight

Question 1

5 parts of aircraft structure

Answer 1

1. fuselage (body)
2. wings (lifting surface)
3. tail (control surfaces)
   4.propulsion (engine+prop)
4. landing gear (fixed vs. retractable)

Question 2

angle of attack

Answer 2

relative airflow compared to chord line (line from leading to trailing edge)
depends on airflow, not attitude (airflow not always horizontal)

Question 3

angle of incidence

Answer 3

chord line relative to horizontal datum line (wings relative to body)

Question 4

centre of pressure

Answer 4

sum of aerodynamic pressure

higher angle of attack = higher pressure difference
past critical = decreased pressure

Question 5

types of drag

Answer 5

1. induced (wake turbulence from lift)
   parasite (caused by anything but lift)
2. interference (2 surfaces meet at sharp angle e.g. struts)
3. profile (shape causes e.g. skin friction)

Question 6

aspect ratio

Answer 6

wing span / wing chord
(higher aspect = lower induced drag)

Question 7

aileron

Answer 7

controls roll
aileron inside of turn lifts up

Question 8

elevator

Answer 8

controls pitch (elevator down = nose down)

Question 9

rudder

Answer 9

controls yaw

Question 10

types of stability

Answer 10

stable, neutral, unstable

Question 11

adverse yaw - torque

Answer 11

prop rotates clockwise so plane will yaw left

Question 12

adverse yaw - asymmetric thrust

Answer 12

down prop will produce more lift so will yaw left

Question 13

adverse yaw - precession

Answer 13

prop acts like gyroscope (yaw left)

Question 14

adverse yaw - slipstream

Answer 14

air pushed by prop has corkscrew (tail right, nose left)

Question 15

adverse yaw - aileron drag

Answer 15

when rolling one wing creates more lift (more drag)
causes yaw in opposite direction of turn

Question 16

weight + balance too far aft

Answer 16

tail heavy, not enough forward elevator to recover stall

Question 17

weight + balance too far forward

Answer 17

not enough back elevator control to recover descent

Question 18

Va

Answer 18

maneuvering speed

Question 19

Vs

Answer 19

stall speed (start of green)

Question 20

Vy

Answer 20

best angle of climb (time)

Question 21

Vx

Answer 21

best angle of climb (distance)

Question 22

Vfe

Answer 22

max. flap extension speed

Question 23

Vno

Answer 23

max. structural cruising speed