Essential Principles of Aviation for AFOQT Preparation Quiz

Closed runways are typically marked with the symbol X X X on airfield diagrams to indicate that they are not in use and should be avoided by aircraft.

The primary flight instruments used by pilots provide essential information such as airspeed, altitude, attitude, and vertical velocity. Radar Detector, Compass, and Thermometer are not classified as primary flight instruments.

The four aerodynamic forces acting on an airplane are drag, lift, thrust, and weight. Drag is the force that opposes the motion of the airplane through the air, lift is the force that enables the airplane to overcome gravity and stay airborne, thrust is the force produced by the airplane's engines to move it forward, and weight is the force exerted on the airplane due to gravity.

An altimeter measures altitude above mean sea level (MSL), providing pilots with crucial information about their vertical position relative to the Earth's surface. It does not measure temperature, wind speed, or pressure.

In aviation, 'bank' refers to the tilting of an aircraft. When a bank is initiated, the airplane will roll or turn to one side.

An overrun is typically marked on an airfield diagram with arrows pointing beyond the designated end of the runway, indicating the area where an aircraft can safely stop in case it overshoots the runway during landing or takeoff.

Ailerons are control surfaces on the outer edge of the wings used to control the aircraft's roll by adjusting the lift on the wings. They are not located at the nose, tail, or inside the cockpit.

When the pilot observes the ineffectiveness of the ailerons and elevator, it indicates the approach of a stall as the control surfaces are no longer responding effectively to pilot input, potentially leading to loss of lift and an aerodynamic stall.

Thrust is the force generated by the airplane's engines to propel it forward, thus counteracting the rearward drag force. Lift is perpendicular to drag and helps lift the airplane off the ground, gravity is the force pulling the airplane down towards the Earth, and turbulence refers to unstable air movements that can affect the flight of the airplane.

A flashing red light signal from the tower to aircraft approaching to land indicates that the airport is unsafe for landing. Pilots should not attempt to land when this signal is given.

An airplane turns by using the horizontal component of lift generated by the wings. This component acts perpendicular to the direction of the lift and helps the airplane change direction.

Lift is the force generated by the wings of an airplane that counteracts gravity and allows the plane to stay airborne. Thrust is the force propelling the airplane forward, drag is the force resisting its motion, and weight is the force of gravity acting on the airplane.

Municipal airports are likely to have limited space and resources, so providing an unusually long flight strip is usually for accommodating heavily loaded ships in still air, which require more distance for take-off.

A flashing green signal indicates to the pilot that the aircraft is cleared to taxi, while other signals like red would indicate to stop immediately, steady green for takeoff, and flashing white for hold position.

An airplane that is inherently stable tends to return to its original position after being disturbed, requiring less corrective input from the pilot to maintain control.

The cowling is a protective cover that surrounds the engine of an aircraft, helping to streamline airflow and maintain engine temperature.

Pitch control is responsible for changing the angle of the aircraft in relation to the horizon, which determines whether the airplane climbs or descends vertically.

Ailerons are control surfaces on the wings of an aircraft that are primarily used to control the roll of the airplane by moving in opposite directions.

Vertical velocity is a term used in physics to describe the rate of change of position in the vertical direction. It specifically refers to how many feet per minute an object is climbing or diving in reference to altitude.

When wingflaps are extended, they increase the camber of the wing, leading to greater lift. However, this also results in an increase in drag due to the disruption of airflow around the wing.

Airplane wings are designed to utilize the Bernoulli's principle, which states that an increase in the speed of a fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure. This principle explains how the pressure difference above and below the wing creates lift necessary for flight.

A steady red light signal from the tower indicates that the aircraft should not land and should instead continue circling the airport until further instructions are given.

A tachometer is a device that measures the revolutions per minute (RPMS) of an engine. It is commonly used in vehicles to monitor the engine speed.

In steady flight, the four forces acting on an aircraft are balanced, where Lift equals Weight and Thrust equals Drag to maintain constant speed and flight path.

Lowering the elevator trim tabs causes the nose of the airplane to pitch up, leading to a climbing attitude.

Attitude in aviation refers to the orientation of the aircraft in relation to the horizon. The False Horizon is an optical illusion that occurs when the actual horizon is obscured or not visible, leading pilots to incorrectly perceive the false horizon as the true horizon.

During a climb, the pilot needs to increase engine power by advancing the throttle to maintain or gain altitude. In a descent, throttle would usually be reduced. Turning and takeoff also require throttle adjustments, but they may not always involve advancing the throttle.

Propeller blades are designed to generate thrust by creating a pressure difference between the curved and flat sides, pushing the aircraft forward.

An ammeter is a device used to measure the electric current in a circuit.