Airframe

Question 1

What is the fuselage

Answer 1

The body of the aircraft to which the wings, tail section, engine and landing gear are attached, it normally contains a cabin and cockpit, instruments and baggage lockers

Question 2

Requirements of the fuselage

Answer 2

It needs to be light but strong enough to to be able to stand the bending and twisting loads of flight without becoming deformed or breaking

Question 3

What construction is commonly used for the fuselage

Answer 3

semi-monocoque/stressed skin

Question 4

Semi-monocoque construction

Answer 4

A light metal framework usually covered by an aluminium alloy skin riveted to it

Question 5

Benefits of semi-monocoque

Answer 5

Incorporates the best feature of truss type and monocoque structure

Question 6

Truss type structure

Answer 6

Internal framework carries almost all the stress

Question 7

Monocoque structure

Answer 7

No internal framework, stress carried by the skin

Question 8

Composite materials

Answer 8

Combination of materials which are bonded together to provide a new material with the required characteristics

Question 9

What composites are used in aviation

Answer 9

Glass fibre reinforced plastics and carbon fibre reinforced plastics

Question 10

Advantages of composites

Answer 10

They offer high strength for reduced weight, better resistance to fatigue, corrosion and impact damage

Question 11

Disadvantages of composites

Answer 11

High cost

Question 12

Spars

Answer 12

They attach to the fuselage extending to the wingtips, they carry the major loads, which bend the wings upwards, downwards, and twist them

Question 13

External struts

Answer 13

Some light aircraft have external struts connecting the wings to the fuselage, this provides extra strength by bracing the wings and transferring some of the wing bending loads from the wing roots to other parts of the fuselage

Question 14

Ribs

Answer 14

They are attached to the wing spars, and provide the required aerofoil shape as well supporting the skin which envelopes the frameworks

Question 15

Stringers

Answer 15

Run in-between the ribs and assist in supporting the skin

Question 16

Ailerons

Answer 16

Control surfaces attached to the outer trailing edge of the wing. They are able to be moved simultaneously in opposite directions to allow the pilot to control roll

Question 17

Flaps

Answer 17

Installed on the inner trailing edges of the wings and are lowered symmetrically to increase lifting ability of the wing or to increase its drag

Question 18

Where are the fuel tanks installed in most light aircraft

Answer 18

In the wings because it is an efficient use of space and in high-wing aeroplanes it enables the use of gravity feed of fuel to the engine

Question 19

Monoplanes

Answer 19

One set of wings

Question 20

Biplanes

Answer 20

Double set of wings

Question 21

Classification of monoplanes

Answer 21

High-wing, low-wing or mid-wing

Question 22

Empennage

Answer 22

Tail section

Question 23

Tail section

Answer 23

Consists of the fin which has a movable rudder attached, tailplane which has a movable elevator attached

Question 24

Vertical stabiliser

Answer 24

Fin

Question 25

Horizontal stabiliser

Answer 25

Tailplane

Question 26

Trim tab

Answer 26

Small control surface on the trailing edge of the elevator and sometimes rudder which aerodynamically balances control in steady flight so that the need to hold a constant steady pressure on the control column to maintain a given altitude is eliminated, reducing the workload of the pilot

Question 27

What are the main flight control surfaces

Answer 27

Elevator, ailerons and rudder

Question 28

What do stops do

Answer 28

Prevent excessive movement to control surfaces

Question 29

Types of undercarriage

Answer 29

- Tricycle type (nose wheel) | - Tail wheel type

Question 30

Disc brakes

Answer 30

Fitted to each main wheel operated hydraulically and independently through the upper portion of the rudder pedal

Question 31

Advanced aircraft have a ____ undercarriage to improve performance by ____ ____

Answer 31

Retractable, reducing drag

Question 32

What type of undercarriage do training aircraft have

Answer 32

Fixed, which cant be retracted

Question 33

What is the recommended taxiing speed

Answer 33

Walking pace

Question 34

Control in a tricycle type undercarriage

Answer 34

Visibility is good, and with nose wheel steering and the use of brakes control is reasonably easy to achieve, however because the tips of the propeller are fairly close to the ground caution must be taken when crossing line depressions to avoid propeller tip strike

Question 35

Control in a tail wheel type undercarriage

Answer 35

Forward viability is usually restricted, so the aircraft must be weaved when taxiing to enable the pilot to see the area ahead, directional control may be lost in what is called a ground loop if the pilot allows a large swing to develop.

Question 36

How is the engine separated from the cockpit

Answer 36

Firewall

Question 37

Propeller in training aircraft

Answer 37

Fixed pitch propeller

Question 38

Constant speed propeller

Answer 38

In more advanced aircraft, the pitch of the blades can be varied and controlled by the pilot

Question 39

What is meant by stressed skin airframes are designed to be fail safe

Answer 39

They are designed and constructed in a way that over-stressing will result in gradual failure of a part of the structure, and not a sudden or catastrophic failure of the whole

Question 40

Flexibility of aluminium alloy structures

Answer 40

Withstands tension (stretching) well, but is susceptible to buckling under compression. It is also susceptible to fatigue as an alloy component that is repeatedly bent or subjected to fluctuating stress such as vibration will eventually crack and then fail in the area where the bending is the greatest

Question 41

Composite structures

Answer 41

Less prone to fatigue and corrosion and because of they aren't as ductile minor damage won't be visible, they are prone to delamination through the failure of the bonding matrix

Question 42

How can delamination identified

Answer 42

Dull colour, bubbled/depressed, light tapping may produce a different sound

Question 43

What are fabric airframes affected by

Answer 43

UV light, Moisture, pollution, spilled aircraft fluid, battery acid and fumes as well as the passage of time.

Question 44

Fabric airframes inspection

Answer 44

- Check seems and lapped joints - Surface tapes in place - Check lacing cords - Drain holes unobstructed - Surface free from cuts + tears - Check for signs of dope separation, whorls, cracks, spits

Question 45

Picketing procedure

Answer 45

- Park into wind - Choke wheels, park brake on - Lock control surfaces - Tie plane down (angle ropes attached to wings forward, drive pegs on an angle, need slack with manilla rope) - Fit pitot cover - Cover engine openings - Secure loose equipment and lock doors