Theory Of Flight Flashcards
What axis is wingtip to wingtip
Lateral
Where is the longitudinal axis?
Nose to rudder
What is the vertical/normal axis
Passes through centre of gravity
What do ailerons control?
Roll.
When one aileron goes up, what happens to the other?
It goes down
What do elevators control?
Pitch
What control system acts similarly to the elevators, but consists of a single horizontal moving surface?
Stabilator
What controls Yaw?
Rudder.
What axis is roll around?
The longitudinal axis
What movement is associated with the normal axis
Yaw
What does a trim tab do?
Helps pilot maintain a constant altitude.
Where is the trim tab located?
The trailing edge of a control surface
What do spoilers do to lift and drag?
Reduce lift
Increase drag
What do dive brakes do?
Increase drag
What is flutter
Vibrations produced at high speeds
What is an aircraft?
Any machine capable of producing lift
What is an airplane
Power driven aircraft producing it’s lift through fixed wings during flight
What is a glider?
A non powered aircraft producing it’s lift from fixed wings (low aspect ratio)
What is an airframe?
Total structure of the body of an airplane
What is the fuselage?
Central body of an airplane to accommodate crew passengers etc
What is a monoplane?
One set of wings
What is a biplane?
Airplane with two sets of wings
What is leading edge?
Foreword edge if wing where airflow passes
What is the trailing edge?
Rear edge of the wing
What is wing root?
Where the wing attaches to the fuselage?
What is wingtip?
The furthest edge of the wing from the fuselage
What are spars?
Beams supporting wings from root to wingtip
What is the fin/vertical stabilizer?
A vertical surface at the end of the fuselage to provide stability
Define lift.
Force allowing the aircraft to be suspended in air
Give 3 examples of things lift depends on.
Angle of attack Aerodynamic profile Surface area of wing True airspeed Density of air
List the two types of drag
Parasite
Induced
Define parasite drag
Drag caused by all parts of the aircraft that do not produce life
No aerodynamic components
Define drag
Resistance to motion through air
Define induced drag
Caused by parts of the aircraft that produce lift.
Ex. Turbulent layer over wing
Define angle of attack
Angle between chord line and relative airflow
Define chord
Imaginary line joining leading and trailing edge of wing
Define angle of incidence
Angle between chord and longitudinal axis. Constructed into the aircraft
As angle of attack increases, what happens to lift?
It increases
Name 2 ways to increase life
Increase angle of attack
Increase speed
What is a stall
When the wings can no longer produce sufficient lift
Name 3 symptoms of approaching a stall
Loss of horizon Reduced wind noise Dropping of indicated airspeed Slack controls Buffering
Name 3 factors of a stall
Weight Centre of gravity Turbulence Turns Flaps Climatic condition
How does a glider keep lift?
By keeping the nose slightly down
What is equilibrium?
When thrust and drag are equal
Where is the spar located in a conventional airfoil?
25%
What happens to lift and drag in a conventional airfoil?
Increased lift and drag?
What kind of aircraft does a conventional airfoil suit better?
Slow aircraft
Where is the thickest part of a laminar airfoil located?
50%
What happens to lift and drag with a laminar airfoil?
Both decease
What kind of aircraft are better suited for a laminar airfoil?
High speed aircraft
What is relative airflow?
Air flowing opposite,
But parallel to the direction of travel
What is camber?
The curve of a wing
What is span?
The maximum distance between wingtips
What is aspect ratio?
Ration between length of wingspan and chord.
What kinds of aircraft are high aspect ratio used on?
Gliders. Produces more lift and less drag
What kind of aircraft use low aspect ratio?
High speed aircraft
What is the laminar layer?
Smith air flowing over wing
What is turbulent layer?
Air that becomes turbulent over the wing.
What is the transition point?
Where the laminar layer becomes turbulent
What is the separation point?
Where the turbulent layer separates from the wing creating a vacuum
What is the effect of angle of attack on laminar airflow?
As angle of attack increases, transition point moves forward
