Basic Principles of Flight

Question 1

Define mass

Answer 1

Quantity of matter in a body

Question 2

Define weight

Answer 2

The heaviness of matter as a result of gravity

Question 3

What is IAS?

Answer 3

Indicated Airspeed

What’s displayed directly to the pilot

Question 4

What is TAS?

Answer 4

True Airspeed

The speed of the aircraft relative to the air.

Question 5

What is M?

Answer 5

Mach Number

The velocity of the aircraft, relative to the local speed of sound.

Question 6

What is GS?

Answer 6

Groundspeed

The speed of the aircraft over the surface.

Question 7

What is Newtons 3rd Law?

Answer 7

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Question 8

Describe Bernoullis Principle?

Answer 8

An increase in the speed of a fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in static pressure. And vice versa.

Question 9

At what point does weight act on an aircraft?

Answer 9

Weight acts through the centre of gravity of an aicraft.

Question 10

What is Lift?

Answer 10

The force generated by the flow of air over the wings of an aircraft.

Question 11

How does lift act on a plane?

Answer 11

Lift acts perpendicular to the airflow and throught centre of pressure.

Question 12

How can fuel be transferred to alter C of G?

Answer 12

Through cross-feeding.

Question 13

What is Thrust?

Answer 13

The force generated by the engines giving the aircraft forward movement.

Question 14

How does Thrust act on an aircraft?

Answer 14

Thrust acts through the Thrust Line of an aircraft.

This is parallel and opposite to Drag.

Question 15

What is Drag?

Answer 15

The opposing force experienced by an aircraft as it moves through air.

Question 16

How does Drag act on an aircraft?

Answer 16

Drag acts through the drag line of an aircraft.

This is parallel and opposite to Thrust.

Question 17

What are the 4 forces that act on aircraft?

Answer 17

Lift, Thrust, Drag and Weight.

Question 18

What happens to forces in steady, straight and level flight?

Answer 18

Lift balances Weight, and Thrust balances Drag.

Question 19

What happens to forces in a turn?

Answer 19

Weight always acts vertically down towards the Earth due to gravity.

Lift always acts perpendicular to the aerofoil.

Therefore as an aircraft banks, some of the lift acts away from the vertical, and the resultant lift will be less than weight.

Therefore pilot intervention is needed to maintain height.

Question 20

What happens as an aircraft accelerates?

Answer 20

Airflow over the wings increases, resulting in increased lift, allowing the aircraft to climb.

And vice versa.