What Is/Are Flashcards
What are the forces of flight?
Lift - the upward force generated by the air below the airfoil pushing the plane up
Gravity - the weight of the airplane including passengers, crew, fuel, and cargo
Thrust - the forward force created by the engines
Drag - the backward pulling force created by the disruption of airflow
When flying an aircraft, 3 general speed regimes are followed which are? And for those regimes the pilot utilizes what?
Low-speed flight, cruising flight, and high-speed flight. For those regimes, the pilot utilizes lift and AOA to control the aircraft
When at a high speed, what is maintained for level flight?
A low AOA
When at low speed what is maintained for level flight?
A high AOA
The critical AOA is typically between what degrees?
Between 15 to 20 for most airfoils
What is mountain air turbulence?
Mountain air turbulence refers to rough, erratic air movement that can occur near mountainous terrain.
It is caused by the disruption of prevailing winds as they are forced up and over mountains.
Pilots are trained to anticipate and avoid areas of potential mountain turbulence. They typically add extra altitude clearance when flying near mountains as a precaution.
What is storm turbulence?
Storm turbulence refers to rough, rapidly changing air movements caused by thunderstorms and cumulonimbus cloud formations.
It is caused by powerful updrafts and downdrafts within the clouds that can exceed speeds of 1500-2000 feet per minute. This creates dangerous wind shear conditions around storms.
The strongest turbulence typically occurs at higher altitudes where aircraft cruise, especially near the cumulonimbus tops or anvils. But it can extend several miles outward from a storm. Storm turbulence can happen year-round but is most common in warmer months when thunderstorm activity peaks. It poses the greatest overall turbulence threat to aviation.
Radar systems on the ground and in aircraft help identify storm locations. Pilots are trained to interpret radar returns and detour at least 20 miles around cumulonimbus clouds whenever possible.
What are Newton’s Laws of Motion?
- The first law of motion states that an object in uniform motion will remain in a state of motion unless an external force acts on it
- The second law of motion is force equals mass times acceleration. A certain degree of force is needed to overcome the inertia of an object
- The third law of motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Air is a what?
A composition of gases
Excessive weight reduces the flight performance in almost every respect. For example, the most important performance deficiencies of an overloaded aircraft are:
• 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 approach and landing speed
• Longer landing roll
• Excessive weight on the nosewheel or tailwheel
The pilot must be knowledgeable about what concerning weight?
The effect of weight on the performance of the particular aircraft being flown
Preflight planning should include a check of what?
Performance charts to determine if the aircraft’s weight may contribute to hazardous flight operations
Excessive weight in itself reduces what?
the safety margins available to the pilot. It becomes even more hazardous when other performance-reducing factors are combined with excess weight.
The pilot must also consider what about excessive weight?
The consequences of an overweight aircraft if an emergency condition arises. If an engine fails on takeoff or if airframe ice forms at low altitude, it is usually too late to reduce an aircraft’s weight to keep it in the air
The operating weight of an aircraft can be changed by simply doing what?
Altering the fuel load. Gasoline has considerable weight—6 pounds per gallon. Thirty gallons of fuel may weigh more than one passenger.
