Aerodynamics & Aircraft Systems Flashcards
(20 cards)
What are the four forces acting on an aircraft in flight?
Lift, weight (gravity), thrust, and drag
What creates lift?
The pressure difference above and below the wing due to its airfoil shape and angle of attack.
What is the Angle of Attack (AOA)?
The angle between the chord line of the wing and the relative wind.
What is a stall?
A loss of lift caused by exceeding the critical angle of attack.
How does weight affect stall speed?
Heavier weight increases stall speed.
What is parasitic drag?
Drag caused by the shape and surface of the aircraft — increases with speed.
What is induced drag?
Drag created as a byproduct of lift — highest at low speeds.
What is the relationship between speed and induced drag?
Induced drag decreases as speed increases.
What are the left-turning tendencies in a single-engine propeller aircraft?
P-factor, torque, spiraling slipstream, and gyroscopic precession.
What is load factor?
The ratio of total lift to the aircraft’s weight — increases with bank angle.
What is the purpose of the pitot tube?
Measures ram air pressure for the airspeed indicator.
Which instruments rely on the pitot-static system?
Airspeed indicator (pitot and static), altimeter, and vertical speed indicator (static only).
What happens if the pitot tube is blocked but the drain hole is open?
Airspeed indicator will read zero.
What happens if both the pitot tube and drain hole are blocked?
Airspeed indicator will act like an altimeter and give false readings.
What is the purpose of gyroscopic instruments?
Provide attitude, heading, and rate of turn information.
Which instruments are gyroscopic?
Attitude indicator, heading indicator (directional gyro), turn coordinator.
What powers most gyroscopic instruments in a small trainer?
Vacuum system, electric system, or both (varies by aircraft).
What is detonation in an engine?
Uncontrolled explosion of fuel/air mixture in the cylinder — causes overheating and damage.
What is preignition?
Fuel/air mixture ignites before the spark plug fires — usually due to hot spots in the cylinder.
What is the function of the mixture control?
Adjusts the fuel-to-air ratio to ensure optimal combustion at different altitudes.
