Aerospace Engineering: Wing Flaps and Rudder

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Questions and Answers

What is one purpose of wing flaps?

To decrease wing area to vary the lift.

To enable the pilot to make steeper approaches to a landing without increasing the airspeed. (correct)

To relieve the pilot of maintaining continuous pressure on the controls.

One of the main functions of flaps during approach and landing is to

increase the angle of descent without increasing the airspeed. (correct)

permit a touchdown at a higher indicated airspeed.

decrease the angle of descent without increasing the airspeed.

What is the purpose of the rudder on an airplane?

To control overbanking tendency.

To control roll.

To control yaw. (correct)

Which is not a primary flight control surface?

Flaps. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true concerning primary flight controls?

The effectiveness of each control surface increases with speed because there is more airflow over them. Signup and view all the answers

Which device is a secondary flight control?

Spoilers. Signup and view all the answers

The four forces acting on an airplane in flight are

lift, weight, thrust, and drag. Signup and view all the answers

When are the four forces that act on an airplane in equilibrium?

During unaccelerated level flight. Signup and view all the answers

The term "angle of attack" is defined as the angle between the

chord line of the wing and the relative wind. Signup and view all the answers

The angle of attack at which an airplane wing stalls will

remain the same regardless of gross weight. Signup and view all the answers

What force makes an airplane turn?

The horizontal component of lift. Signup and view all the answers

An airplane said to be inherently stable will

require less effort to control. Signup and view all the answers

In the Northern Hemisphere, a magnetic compass will normally indicate a turn toward the north if

an aircraft is accelerated while on an east or west heading. Signup and view all the answers

During flight, when are the indications of a magnetic compass accurate?

Only in straight-and-level unaccelerated flight. Signup and view all the answers

Which instrument will become inoperative if the pitot tube becomes clogged?

Airspeed indicator. Signup and view all the answers

Which instrument(s) will become inoperative if the static vents become clogged?

Airspeed indicator, altimeter, and vertical speed indicator. Signup and view all the answers

What does the red line on an airspeed indicator represent?

Never-exceed speed. Signup and view all the answers

What is density altitude?

The pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature. Signup and view all the answers

What is pressure altitude?

The altitude indicated when the barometric pressure scale is set to 29.92. Signup and view all the answers

Under what condition is pressure altitude and density altitude the same value?

At standard temperature. Signup and view all the answers

What action can a pilot take to aid in cooling an engine that is overheating during a climb?

Reduce rate of climb and increase airspeed. Signup and view all the answers

If the grade of fuel used in an aircraft engine is lower than specified for the engine, it will most likely cause

detonation. Signup and view all the answers

What type fuel can be substituted for an aircraft if the recommended octane is not available?

The next higher octane aviation gas. Signup and view all the answers

Filling the fuel tanks after the last flight of the day is considered a good operating procedure because this will

prevent moisture condensation by eliminating airspace in the tanks. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Wing Flaps

One purpose of wing flaps is to enable the pilot to make steeper approaches to landing without increasing airspeed.
Another purpose of wing flaps is to relieve the pilot from maintaining continuous pressure on the controls.
Wing flaps increase wing camber and angle of attack, enabling steeper approaches to landing.
Trim tabs, not wing flaps, help relieve control pressures.
Wing area usually remains the same, except for specialized flaps increasing wing area.

Flaps During Approach and Landing

Flaps increase lift and induced drag, enabling the pilot to decrease the angle of descent without increasing the airspeed.
Flaps increase lift at slow airspeeds, allowing for touchdown at a lower indicated airspeed.

Rudder Purpose

The rudder controls yaw, which is rotation about the airplane's vertical axis.
Ailerons (not the rudder) control overbanking tendency in steep turns.
Ailerons correct for the tendency of outside wings to travel faster and lift more, opposing overbanking tendency.
Roll is movement around the longitudinal axis and is controlled by ailerons.

Primary Flight Control Surfaces

The three primary flight control surfaces are the ailerons, the elevator, and the rudder.
Flaps are not a primary flight control surface.
The stabilator or elevator is a primary flight control surface.
Ailerons are also a primary flight control surface.

Airplane Aerodynamics

The four forces acting on an airplane in flight are lift, weight, thrust, and drag.
Lift opposes weight.
Thrust opposes drag.
Lift is produced by wings opposing weight.
Thrust is generated by the engine/propeller.
Drag results from air resistance as the airplane moves.

Angle of Attack

Angle of attack is the angle between the wing's chord line and the relative wind.
The chord line is a straight line from leading edge to trailing edge.
Relative wind is the direction of airflow relative to the wing.
Angle of attack is not dependent on the airplane's longitudinal axis.
The angle of attack at which an airplane wing stalls remains the same regardless of gross weight.

Airplane Turn

The horizontal component of lift causes an airplane to turn.
The vertical component of lift opposes weight and controls vertical, not horizontal movement.
Centrifugal force is not part of the turning force.
Inherently stable aircraft are easier to control than inherently unstable aircraft.

Compass Turning Error

In the Northern Hemisphere, a magnetic compass will normally indicate a turn toward the north if an airplane is accelerating while on an east or west heading.
Compass readings are accurate in straight-and-level, unaccelerated flight.
The compass will not be accurate during turns.

Pitot-Static System

Airspeed indicator is inoperative if the pitot tube is clogged.
Altimeter and vertical speed indicator will be inoperative if the static vents are clogged.
The pitot system is part of the airspeed indicator.
The static system is part of the altimeter and vertical speed indicator.

Airspeed Indicator

The red line represents the never-exceed speed (the highest speed).
Maneuvering speed and turbulent speed are not directly indicated on the airspeed indicator.

Density Altitude

Density altitude is the pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature.
Density altitude is the same as pressure altitude at standard temperature.

Engine Overheating

To aid in cooling an engine that is overheating during a climb, reduce the rate of climb and increase airspeed.

Abnormal Combustion

Use of lower fuel grade for an airplane engine will most likely cause detonation.

Aviation Fuel

Substitutions for aircraft fuel should use higher octane if recommended octane is unavailable.

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Description

Explore the essential functions of wing flaps and rudders in aircraft control. This quiz covers the purposes of wing flaps during landing approaches and the role of rudders in managing yaw. Test your understanding of these critical aviation concepts.