Untitled Deck Flashcards
(37 cards)
Why is having good systems knowledge essential for pilots?
To troubleshoot effectively in the event of a system malfunction or failure. The stakes are high when things break in an aircraft.
What are your aircraft’s primary flight controls?
- Ailerons
- Rudder
- Elevator
What are your aircraft’s secondary flight controls?
- Flaps
- Trim
How are the yoke and rudder pedals linked to their associated flight control surfaces?
Through cables, pulleys, bellcranks, and pushrods.
When you turn the yoke to the left, which direction does each aileron move?
- Left aileron up
- Right aileron down
Aerodynamically, how does rolling the plane to the left occur?
The right aileron drops, increasing its wing’s camber and airflow speed, increasing lift, while the left aileron goes up, decreasing camber and lift.
Around what axis does the aircraft roll?
Longitudinal.
What type of ailerons does your plane have?
Differential and frise.
What is the purpose of differential ailerons?
To counteract adverse yaw.
How do differential ailerons counteract adverse yaw?
The left aileron sticks up higher than the right’s downward deflection, creating additional drag to help yaw in the direction of the turn.
What is the frise feature of the ailerons?
It allows airflow beneath the wing to join and re-energize airflow on the top surface of the aileron, increasing its effectiveness.
What type of horizontal tail surface does your plane have?
Elevator (attached to the back of the fixed horizontal stabilizer).
How is a stabilator different from an elevator?
A stabilator is a single slab that pivots from a central hinge point.
When you pull the yoke back, which direction does the trailing edge of the elevator deflect?
Up.
Aerodynamically, how does the elevator cause the plane to pitch up?
The upward deflection pushes the tail down and raises the nose. It also increases camber on the bottom of the horizontal tail surface.
Around what axis does the aircraft pitch?
Lateral.
When you step on the left rudder pedal, which direction does the trailing edge of the rudder deflect?
To the left.
What effect does the left deflection of the rudder have on the plane’s orientation?
The plane yaws to the left.
What primary function does the rudder serve?
To counteract adverse yaw and unwanted yaw tendencies.
What other functions does the rudder serve?
- Create more parasite drag during forward slips
- Maintain longitudinal alignment during crosswind landings
- Help maintain directional control after engine failures
- Turn the aircraft if ailerons malfunction
Around what axis does the rudder cause the plane to yaw?
Vertical.
What is the purpose of balance weights on primary flight controls?
To decrease control surface flutter at higher airspeeds and reduce pilot control forces.
At slow airspeeds, would you expect your flight controls to be more or less effective?
Less effective due to reduced airflow over the control surfaces.
What effect will trimming the plane nose down have on the trim tab?
The trailing edge of the trim tab will deflect upward.
