Aircraft Control Surfaces Overview

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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

decrease the angle of descent without increasing the airspeed.

permit a touchdown at a higher indicated airspeed.

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

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 pilots to make steeper approaches to landings without increasing airspeed.
Flaps increase wing camber and the angle of attack, which increases lift and induced drag, allowing for steeper approaches.
Trim tabs, not wing flaps, help relieve control pressures.
Wing area usually remains the same, except for some specialized flaps that increase wing area.

Flaps During Approach and Landing

One main function of flaps during approach and landing is to increase the angle of descent without increasing airspeed.
Extending flaps increases lift and induced drag enabling descent without increasing 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.
Overbanking tendency occurs when the outside wing travels significantly faster than the inside wing in a steep turn.

Primary Flight Control Surfaces

The three primary flight controls are ailerons, elevator (or stabilator), and rudder.
Flaps are not primary flight controls but secondary flight controls, as are spoilers.
Stabilator or elevator is a primary control surface.
Ailerons are a primary control surface, controlling roll.

Aerodynamic Forces

The four forces acting on an airplane in flight are lift, weight, thrust, and drag.
Lift is produced by the wings and opposes weight (the result of gravity).
Thrust is produced by the engine/propeller and opposes drag (resistance of air).
The four forces are in equilibrium during unaccelerated level flight.

Angle of Attack

Angle of attack is the angle between the wing's chord line and the relative wind.
The wing chord line is a straight line from the leading to the trailing edge of the wing.
The relative wind is the airflow relative to the wing.

Angle of Attack and Stalls

The angle of attack at which an airplane wing stalls remains the same regardless of gross weight, airspeed, load factor, or density altitude.
The critical angle of attack causes airflow to separate from the upper wing surface, resulting in a stall.

Airplane Turn

The horizontal component of lift is the force that makes an airplane turn.
The vertical component of lift acts to oppose weight and control vertical movement.
Centrifugal force acts toward the outside of the turn.

Inherently Stable Airplane

An airplane said to be inherently stable requires less effort to control.
It will return to its original condition of flight (except in a bank) after a disturbance like turbulence.
Stability does not affect the difficulty of entering a stall.

Magnetic Compass

A magnetic compass in the Northern Hemisphere will indicate a turn toward north during acceleration, particularly while on an east or west heading.
Turn toward north during acceleration as opposed to deceleration.
Accurate Compass Indications: Straight and level, unaccelerated flight.

Pitot-Static System and Instruments

The pitot tube is part of the pitot-static system providing ram air pressure for airspeed indicators.
Clogged pitot tubes (or static vents) will cause airspeed indicators, altimeters, and vertical speed indicators to become inoperative.
The altimeter operates on the static system, not pitot.

Airspeed Indicator

The red line on an airspeed indicator represents the maximum speed at which an airplane should be flown (the never-exceed speed).

Density Altitude

Density altitude is the pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature.
Pressure altitude is an aircraft's height above the standard datum plane, corrected to 29.92" Hg.

Engine Overheating

A pilot can reduce climb speed and increase airspeed to aid in cooling an overheating engine.
Reducing airspeed will hinder cooling. Increasing RPM will further increase engine temperature.

Fuel Grade

Using a lower grade of fuel in an aircraft engine usually leads to detonation.
Lower grades of fuel ignite at lower temperatures and are less likely to explode.
Use of the next higher octane if the recommended one is not available as a replacement fuel.

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Description

This quiz covers the functions and purposes of wing flaps and rudders in aircraft operations. Learn how these control surfaces enhance performance during approaches and landings. Test your understanding of lift, drag, and yaw control in aviation.