Airplane Systems Flashcards
(126 cards)
How are the various flight controls operated?
Rod or cable system
What type of trim system is installed in this airplane?
Elevator thru trim wheel
What are flaps, and what is their function?
Moveable panels on the inboard trailing edge of the wing; permit a lower airspeed and steeper angle of descent
Describe a typical wing flap system
Single-slot, electronically controlled, 15 amp circuit breaker
State some examples of leading edge lift devices
Slots - A slot on the leading edge directs air from under the wing to flow above the wing; delays airflow separation at higher AOA
Slats - Same function as slots but moveable either by pilot control or automatically by low air pressure
What are spoilers?
Devices located on the upper wing which spoil the airflow to reduce lift thereby typically used as air brakes
What instruments operate from the pitot/static system?
Altimeter, VSI, airspeed
Does this aircraft have an alternate static air system?
Yes; used when external static port block; manually activated
How does an altimeter work?
Seal aneroid wafers calibrated at sea level acting against the housing pressure via static air; wafer expands or contracts when pressure decreases or increases respectively which is used to indicate altitude; Kollsman window used to adjust for pressure altitude
A pressure altimeter is subject to what limitations?
Nonstandard pressure and temperatures
Warm day - indicates lower than actual; higher pressure level than standard day
Cold day - indicates higher than actual; lower pressure level than standard
Higher than standard pressure - indicates lower than actual
Lower than standard pressure - indicates higher than actual
Note: High to low/hot to cold, look out below
Define and state how you would determine the following altitudes
Indicated altitude - What is shown on the altimeter set to the current altimeter setting
Pressure altitude - Altitude when altimeter adjusted to 29.92 “Hg
True altitude - Vertical distance above seal level (MSL)
Density altitude - Pressure altitude adjusted for nonstandard temperature
Absolute altitude - Vertical distance above the terrain (AGL)
How does the airspeed indicator operate?
Measures the difference between static and ram air
What are the limitations of the airspeed indicator?
Subject to proper airflow into the pitot or static ports
The airspeed indicator is subject to what errors?
Positions error - Sensing erroneous static pressure due to slipstream; varies with flight configuration, airspeed, altitude
Density error - Changes in altitude and temperature not compensated
Compressibility error - Packing of air in the pitot tube at high speeds results in higher than normal indication
What are the different types of aircraft speeds?
IAS - Read of the airspeed indicator; no corrections applied
Calibrated airspeed (CAS) - airspeed corrected for position and instrument errors; CAS = TAS at sea level
Equivalent airspeed (EAS) - CAS corrected for adiabatic compressible flow for a particular altitude; EAS = CAS at sea level
True airspeed (TAS) - CAS corrected for altitude and nonstandard temperature; speed in relation to the air mass being flown thru
What airspeed limitations apply to the color-coded marking system of the airspeed indicator?
White arc - flap operating range
Bottom of the white arc - VS0
Top of the white arc - VFE
Green arc - normal operating range
Bottom green arc - VS1
Top of the green arc - VNO
Yellow arc - caution range (ops in smooth air only)
Red arc - VNE
What are some examples of important airspeed limitations that are not marked on the face of the airspeed indicator, but are found on placards and in the AFM/POH?
VA
VLO
VLE
Vx
Vy
How does the vertical speed indicator work?
Compares the difference in pressure of the housing chamber with a calibrated orifice and aneroid wafer via static air; expanding wafer indicates positive pressure aka climb while depressed wafer indicates negative pressure aka descend
What are the limitations of the vertical speed indicator?
Not accurate until aircraft stabilized; sudden or abrupt movements cause erroneous readings
Which instruments contain gyroscopes?
Turn coordinator, heading indicator, attitude indicator
What are two fundamental properties of a gyroscope?
Rigidity in space - Remains in a fixed position on the plane it is spinning
Precession - Any force applied to the gyro occurs 90 degrees beyond the direction of rotation
What are the various sources that may be used to power the gyroscopic instruments in an airplane?
Vacuum or electrically operated
How does the vacuum system operate?
Air drawn by an engine-driven vacuum pump thru a filter then moves thru the various instruments causing the gyros within to spin then expelled or used in other systems, relief value prevent system from exceeding limits
How does the attitude indicator work?
Gyro mounted on the horizontal plane while aircraft moves about its axis