Aviation Fundamentals and Flight Aptitude Quiz

Municipal airports typically have longer runways to accommodate heavily loaded aircraft during calm weather conditions as they require more distance to achieve takeoff speed and lift. Lightly loaded aircraft in crosswind, small aircraft in rainy weather, and aircraft with higher climbing speeds do not necessarily require extended runways for takeoff.

Thrust is the force that opposes drag and propels the airplane forward. Lift is the force that counteracts weight to enable flight. Weight is the force exerted by gravity on the airplane. Compression is the reduction in volume resulting from applied pressure.

The correct forces that act on an aircraft in flight are lift, gravity, thrust, and drag. Lift opposes gravity to keep the aircraft aloft, thrust overcomes drag to propel the aircraft forward, and together they maintain controlled flight.

In a fixed-wing aircraft, lift is generated perpendicular to the direction of flight as it opposes the force of gravity, allowing the aircraft to stay airborne.

The Mach number is a dimensionless quantity representing the ratio of airspeed to the speed of sound in the medium through which the aircraft is traveling. It is a crucial parameter in aerodynamics.

Parasitic drag is caused by components of the aircraft that do not contribute to lift, while induced drag is generated as a result of the production of lift. These are the two fundamental types of drag in aviation.

Wing flaps, when in the down position, help increase the lift generated by the wings by changing the airflow over the wing surface. This increased lift comes at the cost of increased drag, which is the resistance a wing experiences as it moves through the air.

The small hinged section on the elevator of most airplanes that controls the trim of the aircraft is known as the Trim tab. Ailerons are hinged control surfaces usually attached to the trailing edge of the wing of an aircraft. Flaps are devices on the trailing edge of the wing of an aircraft to reduce the speed at which an aircraft can be safely flown. Stabilator is a type of horizontal tail surface control surface that combines the functions of elevator and stabilizer.

Airport taxiways are identified by blue omnidirectional edge lights at night to help guide aircraft safely around the airport.

The correct answer is (C) Expanding the gas stream through the turbine and nozzle. This process harnesses the energy from the combusted fuel-air mixture to produce thrust in a turbojet engine.

A ramjet engine typically consists of an inlet to capture air, a combustion zone where fuel is burned, and a nozzle to accelerate the exhaust gases.

The correct answer is 'Angle of attack.' This angle is crucial in determining the lift and drag forces acting on the airfoil or wing. The critical angle refers to the maximum angle of attack before the airflow separates from the wing, leading to a stall. The stall angle is the specific angle of attack at which a wing stalls. The angle of pitch refers to the rotation of the aircraft about its lateral axis.

Pitot tubes measure the airspeed of an aircraft, similar to how a speedometer measures the speed of an automobile. A pressure transducer measures pressure, a tachometer measures engine speed, and an ohmmeter measures electrical resistance.

The fuselage is the main body of an aircraft where passengers and cargo are carried, while the empennage refers to the tail section of an aircraft. Cargo compartments are within the fuselage, and the cockpit array includes the cockpit area but not the entire fuselage.

In a conventional fixed-wing aircraft, the horizontal stabilizers maintain pitch by controlling the aircraft's tendency to pitch up or down, while the vertical stabilizer maintains yaw by counteracting the aircraft's tendency to yaw or skid.

Flaps are separate hinged sections on the trailing edge of the wing that can be deployed to increase lift during takeoff and landing. Ailerons are control surfaces on the trailing edge of the wing used to control the roll of the aircraft. Elevators are control surfaces on the horizontal tail stabilizer used to control the pitch of the aircraft. Trim tabs are small hinged sections on control surfaces that can be adjusted to fine-tune the aircraft's stability and control.

Density altitude is primarily affected by temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity, and altitude. Wind velocity does not significantly impact density altitude.

Bank refers to the movement of an aircraft around its longitudinal axis, which involves tilting the aircraft to one side. Pitch refers to the movement around the lateral axis, sideslip is the horizontal movement of the aircraft, and yaw is the movement around the vertical axis.

The Venturi theory of lift states that as airflow speeds up over the curved upper surface of a wing, according to Bernoulli's equation, the pressure decreases, creating the lift necessary for flight.

Hovering is the correct answer as it describes the specific maneuver mentioned in the question, where the aircraft stays in one place over a ground reference point. Feathering, autorotation, and torque balance are not specific to the described maneuver.

The flight envelope of an aircraft refers to the specific combination of altitude and airspeed in which the aircraft can safely operate. This includes factors such as stall speeds, maneuvering speeds, and maximum speeds at different altitudes.

The Mean camber line represents the average curvature of an airfoil and is the locus of points equidistant from the upper and lower surfaces. It is an important concept in aerodynamics for understanding the overall shape and performance of an airfoil.

An aerodynamic stall occurs when the angle of attack of the wing increases to a point where the airflow separates and lift is greatly reduced. This can lead to a loss of control and potential dangerous situations. It is important for pilots to be aware of the signs of an aerodynamic stall and how to recover from it.

At high altitudes, the air density is lower, which decreases an airfoil's efficiency.

Pitch refers to the movement of an aircraft around its lateral axis, causing the nose of the aircraft to move up or down.

When flaps are extended, the camber of the wing is increased, which helps generate more lift at lower speeds. This increased camber allows the wing to operate more efficiently at lower angles of attack, enabling smoother take-offs and landings.