Here are sample exercises from FAA, Oxford ATPL, and other aerodynamic questions.
- Constant CAS Below Sea Level:
- At a constant CAS when flying below sea level, an aircraft will have a lower TAS than at sea level at ISA conditions.
- Answer: b. a lower TAS than at sea level at ISA conditions.
- TAS Definition:
- TAS is lower than IAS at ISA altitudes below sea level.
- Answer: c. lower than IAS at ISA altitudes below sea level.
- IAS and TAS Difference:
- The difference between IAS and TAS will decrease with decreasing altitude.
- Answer: d. decrease with decreasing altitude.
- Bernoulli’s Theorem:
- Bernoulli’s Theorem states that dynamic pressure increases and static pressure decreases.
- Answer: b. dynamic pressure increases and static pressure decreases.
- Effect of Increased Temperature on Airflow:
- If the temperature of the air in the tube is raised, the mass flow remains constant, and the velocity V will increase.
- Answer: d. the mass flow remains constant and the velocity V will increase.
- Symmetrical Aerofoil at CL = 0:
- A symmetrical aerofoil section at CL = 0 will produce zero pitching moment.
- Answer: c. Zero pitching moment.
- Angle of Attack Definition:
- Angle of attack is the angle between undisturbed airflow and chord line.
- Answer: a. undisturbed airflow and chord line.
- Lift and Drag Forces on Aerofoil:
- Lift and drag forces on an aerofoil section both depend on the pressure distribution on the aerofoil section.
- Answer: b. they both depend on the pressure distribution on the aerofoil section.
- Factors Creating Lift:
- An aerofoil in a high-speed flow creates lift.
- Answer: b. An aerofoil in a high-speed flow.
- Greatest Factor Causing Lift:
- Suction above the wing is the greatest factor causing lift.
- Answer: a. Suction above the wing.
- Influence of Ground Effect on Landing:
- Ground effect increases landing distance.
- Answer: a. increase landing distance.
- Lift Curve Intersecting Vertical CL Axis:
- On an angle of attack versus coefficient of lift graph for a cambered aerofoil, the lift curve intersects the vertical CL axis above the point of origin.
- Answer: a. above the origin.
- Effect of Flaps on Induced Drag:
- Induced drag stays the same when flaps are deployed in straight and level flight at constant IAS.
- Answer: d. stays the same.
- Pitching Moment with Fowler Flaps on High-Tail Aircraft:
- Fowler flaps deployed on a high-tail aircraft generate a nose-down pitching moment.
- Answer: b. nose down.
- Flaps and Pitching Moment in Straight and Level Flight:
- Flaps’ effect on pitching moment depends on CG position.
- Answer: c. depends.
- Slat Purpose on Leading Edge:
- A slat increases the energy of the boundary layer, increases the maximum angle of attack, and moves CLMAX to a higher angle of attack.
- Answer: d. increases the energy of the boundary layer and increases the maximum angle of attack.
- Stall Speed Comparison with Flaps:
- Stall speed decreases with flaps down compared to flaps up.
- Answer: b. decreases.
- High-Speed Stall Definition:
- A high-speed stall is a stall due to decreasing CLMAX at speeds above M 0.4.
- Answer: c. A stall due to decreasing CLMAX at speeds above M 0.4.
- Aircraft Prone to Super Stall:
- A swept-back wing aircraft is most prone to super stall.
- Answer: c. Swept-back wing.
- Designation of Stall Speed in Landing Configuration:
- VSO is the correct designation of stall speed in the landing configuration.
- Answer: c. VSO.
- Effect of Ice Formation:
- Ice formation causes a reduction in CLMAX.
- Answer: d. Reduction in CLMAX.
- Effect of Slats on Wing Leading Edge:
- Slats increase the energy of the boundary layer, increase suction peak on the main wing section, and move CLMAX to a higher angle of attack.
- Answer: c. increase boundary layer energy, increase suction peak on main wing section, move CLMAX to a higher angle of attack.
- Stall Behavior with Fowler Flaps and Slat:
- In a swept-wing aircraft with Fowler flaps and slats, the stall behavior is nose up and/or elevator ineffectiveness.
- Answer: b. Nose up and/or elevator ineffectiveness.
- Aileron Neutral During Erect Spin Recovery:
- Ailerons should be held neutral during erect spin recovery.
- Answer: b. ailerons held neutral.
- Stalling Speed in Turn Proportional to:
- Stalling speed in a turn is proportional to the square root of the load factor.
- Answer: c. the square root of the load factor.
- Factors Affecting Stalling Speed:
- Stalling speed increases when recovering from a steep dive.
- Answer: a. recovering from a steep dive.
- CP Movement on Swept Wing Due to Tip Stall:
- The CP on a swept wing aircraft moves forward due to tip stall of the wing.
- Answer: b. tip stall of the wing.
- Decreasing Sweep Angle Effect on Stall Speed:
- Decreasing sweep angle decreases stall speed.
- Answer: decreases.
- Effect of Flaps on Stall Speed:
- Stall speed decreases with flaps down compared to flaps up.
- Answer: b. decreases.
- High-Speed Stall Definition:
- A high-speed stall is a stall due to decreasing CLMAX at speeds above M 0.4.
- Answer: c. A stall due to decreasing CLMAX at speeds above M 0.4.
- Aircraft Prone to Super Stall:
- A swept-back wing aircraft is most prone to super stall.
- Answer: c. Swept-back wing.
- Designation of Stall Speed in Landing Configuration:
- VSO is the correct designation of stall speed in the landing configuration.
- Answer: c. VSO.
- Effect of Ice Formation:
- Ice formation causes a reduction in CLMAX.
- Answer: d. Reduction in CLMAX.
- Effect of Slats on Wing Leading Edge:
- Slats increase the energy of the boundary layer, increase suction peak on the main wing section, and move CLMAX to a higher angle
- Answer: c. increase boundary layer energy, increase suction peak on main wing section, move CLMAX to a higher angle of attack.
- Stall Behavior with Fowler Flaps and Slat:
- In a swept-wing aircraft with Fowler flaps and slats, the stall behavior is nose up and/or elevator ineffectiveness.
- Answer: b. Nose up and/or elevator ineffectiveness.
- Aileron Neutral During Erect Spin Recovery:
- Ailerons should be held neutral during erect spin recovery.
- Answer: b. ailerons held neutral.
- Stalling Speed in Turn Proportional to:
- Stalling speed in a turn is proportional to the square root of the load factor.
- Answer: c. the square root of the load factor.
- Factors Affecting Stalling Speed:
- Stalling speed increases when recovering from a steep dive.
- Answer: a. recovering from a steep dive.
- CP Movement on Swept Wing Due to Tip Stall:
- The CP on a swept wing aircraft moves forward due to tip stall of the wing.
- Answer: b. tip stall of the wing.
- Decreasing Sweep Angle Effect on Stall Speed:
- Decreasing sweep angle decreases stall speed.
- Answer: decreases.
- Effect of Flaps on Stall Speed:
- Stall speed decreases with flaps down compared to flaps up.
- Answer: b. decreases.
- High-Speed Stall Definition:
- A high-speed stall is a stall due to decreasing CLMAX at speeds above M 0.4.
- Answer: c. A stall due to decreasing CLMAX at speeds above M 0.4.
- Aircraft Prone to Super Stall:
- A swept-back wing aircraft is most prone to super stall.
- Answer: c. Swept-back wing.
- Designation of Stall Speed in Landing Configuration:
- VSO is the correct designation of stall speed in the landing configuration.
- Answer: c. VSO.
- Effect of Ice Formation:
- Ice formation causes a reduction in CLMAX.
- Answer: d. Reduction in CLMAX.
- Effect of Slats on Wing Leading Edge:
- Slats increase the energy of the boundary layer, increase suction peak on the main wing section, and move CLMAX to a higher angle of attack.
- Answer: c. increase boundary layer energy, increase suction peak on main wing section, move CLMAX to a higher angle of attack.
- Stall Behavior with Fowler Flaps and Slat:
- In a swept-wing aircraft with Fowler flaps and slats, the stall behavior is nose up and/or elevator ineffectiveness.
- Answer: b. Nose up and/or elevator ineffectiveness.
- Aileron Neutral During Erect Spin Recovery:
- Ailerons should be held neutral during erect spin recovery.
- Answer: b. ailerons held neutral.
- Stalling Speed in Turn Proportional to:
- Stalling speed in a turn is proportional to the square root of the load factor.
- Answer: c. the square root of the load factor.
- Factors Affecting Stalling Speed:
- Stalling speed increases when recovering from a steep dive.
- Answer: a. recovering from a steep dive.
- CP Movement on Swept Wing Due to Tip Stall:
- The CP on a swept wing aircraft moves forward due to tip stall of the wing.
- Answer: b. tip stall of the wing.
- Decreasing Sweep Angle Effect on Stall Speed:
- Decreasing sweep angle decreases stall speed.
- Answer: decreases.
- Effect of Flaps on Stall Speed:
- Stall speed decreases with flaps down compared to flaps up.
- Answer: b. decreases.
- High-Speed Stall Definition:
- A high-speed stall is a stall due to decreasing CLMAX at speeds above M 0.4.
- Answer: c. A stall due to decreasing CLMAX at speeds above M 0.4.
- Aircraft Prone to Super Stall:
- A swept-back wing aircraft is most prone to super stall.
- Answer: c. Swept-back wing.
- Designation of Stall Speed in Landing Configuration:
- VSO is the correct designation of stall speed in the landing configuration.
- Answer: c. VSO.
- Effect of Ice Formation:
- Ice formation causes a reduction in CLMAX.
- Answer: d. Reduction in CLMAX.
- Effect of Slats on Wing Leading Edge:
- Slats increase the energy of the boundary layer, increase suction peak on the main wing section, and move CLMAX to a higher angle of attack.
- Answer: c. increase boundary layer energy, increase suction peak on main wing section, move CLMAX to a higher angle of attack.
- Stall Behavior with Fowler Flaps and Slat:
- In a swept-wing aircraft with Fowler flaps and slats, the stall behavior is nose up and/or elevator ineffectiveness.
- Answer: b. Nose up and/or elevator ineffectiveness.
- Aileron Neutral During Erect Spin Recovery:
- Ailerons should be held neutral during erect spin recovery.
- Answer: b. ailerons held neutral.
- Stalling Speed in Turn Proportional to:
- Stalling speed in a turn is proportional to the square root of the load factor.
- Answer: c. the square root of the load factor.
- Factors Affecting Stalling Speed:
- Stalling speed increases when recovering from a steep dive.
- Answer: a. recovering from a steep dive.
- CP Movement on Swept Wing Due to Tip Stall:
- The CP on a swept wing aircraft moves forward due to tip stall of the wing.
- Answer: b. tip stall of the wing.
- Decreasing Sweep Angle Effect on Stall Speed:
- Decreasing sweep angle decreases stall speed.
- Answer: decreases.
- Effect of Flaps on Stall Speed:
- Stall speed decreases with flaps down compared to flaps up.
- Answer: b. decreases.
- High-Speed Stall Definition:
- A high-speed stall is a stall due to decreasing CLMAX at speeds above M 0.4.
- Answer: c. A stall due to decreasing CLMAX at speeds above M 0.4.
- Aircraft Prone to Super Stall:
- A swept-back wing aircraft is most prone to super stall.
- Answer: c. Swept-back wing.
- Designation of Stall Speed in Landing Configuration:
- VSO is the correct designation of stall speed in the landing configuration.
- Answer: c. VSO