Exam quiz Principles of Flight (Aeroplane) - SPL - Sailplane Pilot License

Question 1

What is the advantage of differential aileron movement?

Accepted Answer

The drag of the downwards deflected aileron is lowered and the adverse yaw is smaller

Answer

The total lift remains constant during aileron deflection

Answer

The ratio of the drag coefficient to lift coefficient is increased

Answer

The adverse yaw is higher

Question 2

During approach to the next updraft, the vertical speed indicator reads 3 m/s descent. Within the updraft you expect a mean rate of climb of 2 m/s. According to McCready, how should you adjust the speed during approach of the updraft?

Accepted Answer

The McCready ring should be set to 2 m/s, the recommended speed can be read at the McCready scale next to the current rate of descent (3 m/s)

Answer

The McCready ring should be set to 2 m/s, the recommended speed can be read at the McCready scale next to the sum of current rate of descent at expected rate of climb (5 m/s)

Answer

The McCready ring should be set to 3 m/s, the recommended speed can be read at the McCready scale next to the expected rate of climb (2 m/s)

Answer

Outside of thermal cells, the McCready ring should be set to 0 m/s, the recommended speed can be read at the McCready scale next to the current rate of descent (3 m/s)

Question 3

How is the balance of forces affected during a turn?

Accepted Answer

Lift force must be increased to compensate for the sum of centrifugal and gravitational force

Answer

A lower lift force compensates for a lower net force as compared to level flight

Answer

The horizontal component of the lift force during a turn is the centrifugal force

Answer

The net force results from superposition of gravity and centripetal forces

Question 4

Which of the listed wing shapes has the lowest induced drag?

Accepted Answer

Elliptical shape

Answer

Rectangular shape

Answer

Trapezoidal shape

Answer

Double trapezoidal shape

Question 5

Stability around which axis is mainly influenced by the centre of gravity's longitudinal position?

Accepted Answer

Lateral axis

Answer

Longitudinal axis

Answer

Gravity axis

Answer

Vertical axis

Question 6

The laminar boundary layer on the aerofoil is located between...

Accepted Answer

The stagnation point and the transition point

Answer

The stagnation point and the centre of pressure

Answer

The transition point and the separation point

Answer

The transition point and the centre of pressure

Question 7

If surrounded by airflow (v > 0), any arbitrarily shaped body produces...

Accepted Answer

Drag

Answer

Drag and lift

Answer

Lift without drag.

Answer

Constant drag at any speed

Question 8

Which of the following options is likely to produce large induced drag?

Accepted Answer

Small aspect ratio

Answer

Large aspect ratio

Answer

Low lift coefficients

Answer

Tapered wings

Question 9

The ratio of span and mean chord length is referred to as...

Accepted Answer

Aspect ratio

Answer

Trapezium shape

Answer

Tapering

Answer

Wing sweep

Question 10

In case of a stall it is important to...

Accepted Answer

Decrease the angle of attack and increase the speed

Answer

Increase the angle of attack and increase the speed

Answer

Increase the angle of attack and reduce the speed

Answer

Increase the bank angle and reduce the speed

Question 11

Which parts of an aircraft mainly affect the generation of induced drag?

Accepted Answer

The wing tips

Answer

The front part of the fuselage

Answer

The outer part of the ailerons

Answer

The lower part of the gear

Question 12

In straight and level flight with constant performance of the engine, the angle of attack at the wing is...

Accepted Answer

Smaller than in a climb

Answer

Smaller than in a descent

Answer

Greater than in a climb

Answer

Greater than at take-off

Question 13

Which point on the aerofoil is represented by number 3? See figure (PFA-009)

Accepted Answer

Transition point

Answer

Stagnation point

Answer

Separation point

Answer

Centre of pressure

Question 14

What structural item provides lateral stability to an aeroplane?

Accepted Answer

Wing dihedral

Answer

Vertical tail

Answer

Differential aileron deflection

Answer

Elevator

Question 15

With different aircraft weights, the critical angle of attack is...

Accepted Answer

Is not changed by different aircraft weights

Answer

Increases with a front centre of gravity

Answer

Is changed by different aircraft weights

Answer

Decreases with a rear centre of gravity

Question 16

The elevator moves an aeroplane around the...

Accepted Answer

Lateral axis

Answer

Vertical axis

Answer

Longitudinal axis

Answer

Elevator axis

Question 17

Deflecting the rudder to the left causes...

Accepted Answer

Yawing of the aircraft to the left

Answer

Pitching of the aircraft to the left

Answer

Pitching of the aircraft to the right

Answer

Yawing of the aircraft to the right

Question 18

Which kinds of drag contribute to total drag?

Accepted Answer

Induced drag and parasite drag

Answer

Interference drag and parasite drag

Answer

Induced drag, form drag, skin-friction drag

Answer

Form drag, skin-friction drag, interference drag

Question 19

At stationary glide and the same mass, what is the difference when using a thick airfoil instead of a thinner airfoil?

Accepted Answer

More drag, same lift

Answer

Less drag, less lift

Answer

More drag, less lift

Answer

Less drag, same lift

Question 20

Which design feature can compensate for adverse yaw?

Accepted Answer

Differential aileron deflection

Answer

Wing dihedral

Answer

Full deflection of the aileron

Answer

Aileron trim

Question 21

The trim tab at the elevator is deflected upwards. In which position is the corresponding indicator?

Accepted Answer

Nose-down position

Answer

Neutral position

Answer

Nose-up position

Answer

Laterally trimmed

Question 22

Rudder deflections result in a turn of the aeroplane around the...

Accepted Answer

Vertical axis

Answer

Rudder axis

Answer

Lateral axis

Answer

Longitudinal axis

Question 23

How do induced drag and parasite drag change with increasing airspeed during a horizontal and stable cruise flight?

Accepted Answer

Induced drag decreases and parasite drag increases

Answer

Parasite drag decreases and induced drag increases

Answer

Parasite drag decreases and induced drag decreases

Answer

Induced drag increases and parasite drag increases

Question 24

What structural item provides directional stability to an aeroplane?

Accepted Answer

Large vertical tail

Answer

Differential aileron deflection

Answer

Wing dihedral

Answer

Large elevator

Question 25

In order to improve the stall characteristics of an aircraft, the wing is twisted outwards (the angle of incidence varies spanwise). This is known as...

Accepted Answer

Geometric washout

Answer

Arrow shape

Answer

V-form

Answer

Aerodynamic washout

Question 26

What leads to a decreased stall speed Vs (IAS)?

Accepted Answer

Decreasing weight

Answer

Lower density

Answer

Lower altitude

Answer

Higher load factor

Question 27

How does a laminar boundary layer differ from a turbulent boundary layer?

Accepted Answer

The turbulent boundary layer can follow the airfoil camber at higher angles of attack

Answer

The laminar boundary layer is thinner and provides more skin-friction drag

Answer

The laminar boundary layer produces lift, the turbulent boundary layer produces drag

Answer

The turbulent boundary layer is thicker and provides less skin-friction drag

Question 28

The drag coefficient...

Accepted Answer

Cannot be lower than a non-negative, minimal value

Answer

Is proportional to the lift coefficient

Answer

Increases with increasing airspeed

Answer

May range from zero to an infinite positive value

Question 29

The angle of attack is the angle between...

Accepted Answer

The chord line and the oncoming airflow

Answer

The chord line and the longitudinal axis of an aeroplane

Answer

The wing and the fuselage of an aeroplane

Answer

The undisturbed airflow and the longitudinal axis of an aeroplane

Question 30

What pattern can be found at the stagnation point?

Accepted Answer

Streamlines are divided into airflow above and below the profile

Answer

The boundary layer starts separating on the upper surface of the profile

Answer

All aerodynamic forces can be considered as attacking at this single point

Answer

The laminar boundary layer changes into a turbulent boundary layer

Question 31

Point number 1 in the figure indicates which flight state? See figure (PFA-008)

Accepted Answer

Inverted flight

Answer

Slow flight

Answer

Stall

Answer

Best gliding angle

Question 32

The right aileron deflects upwards, the left downwards. How does the aircraft react?

Accepted Answer

Rolling to the right, yawing to the left

Answer

Rolling to the left, no yawing

Answer

Rolling to the left, yawing to the right

Answer

Rolling to the right, yawing to the right

Question 33

Number 3 in the drawing corresponds to the... See figure (PFA-010)

Accepted Answer

Camber line

Answer

Thickness

Answer

Chord

Answer

Chord line

Question 34

What is meant by "ground effect"?

Accepted Answer

Increase of lift and decrease of induced drag close to the ground

Answer

Decrease of lift and increase of induced drag close to the ground

Answer

Increase of lift and increase of induced drag close to the ground

Answer

Decrease of lift and decrease of induced drag close to the ground

Question 35

Differential aileron deflection is used to...

Accepted Answer

Keep the adverse yaw low

Answer

Reduce wake turbulence

Answer

Avoid a stall at low angles of attack

Answer

Increase the rate of descent

Question 36

During a stall, the lift...

Accepted Answer

Decreases and drag increases

Answer

Increases and drag increases

Answer

Decreases and drag decreases

Answer

Increases and drag decreases

Question 37

Where is interference drag generated?

Accepted Answer

At the wing root

Answer

At the ailerons

Answer

At the gear

Answer

Near the wing tips

Question 38

The static pressure of gases work...

Accepted Answer

In all directions

Answer

Only in flow direction

Answer

Only in the direction of the total pressure

Answer

Only vertical to the flow direction

Question 39

In which way does the position of the centre of pressure move at a positively shaped profile with increasing angle of attack?

Accepted Answer

It moves forward until reaching the critical angle of attack

Answer

It moves to the wing tips

Answer

It moves backward until reaching the critical angle of attack

Answer

It moves forward first, then backward

Question 40

When increasing the airflow speed by a factor of 2 while keeping all other parameters constant, how does the parasite drag change approximately?

Accepted Answer

It increases by a factor of 4

Answer

It decreases by a factor of 2

Answer

It increases by a factor of 2

Answer

It decreases by a factor of 4

Question 41

How does aircraft weight affect the critical angle of attack?

Accepted Answer

Is independent of the weight

Answer

Decreases with forward centre of gravity position

Answer

Changes with increasing weight

Answer

Increases with backward centre of gravity position

Question 42

The aerodynamic rudder balance...

Accepted Answer

Reduces the control stick forces

Answer

Reduces the control surfaces

Answer

Delays the stall

Answer

Improves the rudder effectiveness

Question 43

What effect is referred to as "adverse yaw"?

Accepted Answer

Aileron operation results in a yaw to the opposite side due to more drag at the down-deflected aileron

Answer

Aileron operation results in a yaw to the desired side due to less drag at the down-deflected aileron

Answer

Rudder operation results in a rolling moment to the opposite side due to more lift generated by the faster moving wing

Answer

Aileron operation results in a yaw to the opposite side due to more drag at the up-deflected aileron

Question 44

What pressure pattern can be observed at a lift-generating wing profile at positive angle of attack?

Accepted Answer

Low pressure is created above, higher pressure below the profile

Answer

Pressure above remains unchanged, higher pressure is created below the profile

Answer

High pressure is created above, lower pressure below the profile

Answer

Pressure below remains unchanged, lower pressure is created above the profile

Question 45

The centre of pressure is the theoretical point of origin of...

Accepted Answer

All aerodynamic forces of the profile

Answer

Only the resulting total drag

Answer

Gravity forces of the profile

Answer

Gravity and aerodynamic forces

Question 46

What is the function of the static rudder balance?

Accepted Answer

To prevent control surface flutter

Answer

To trim the controls almost without any force

Answer

To increase the control stick forces

Answer

To limit the control stick forces

Question 47

All aerodynamic forces can be considered to act on a single point. This point is called...

Accepted Answer

Centre of pressure

Answer

Centre of gravity

Answer

Lift point

Answer

Transition point

Question 48

Extending airbrakes results in ...

Accepted Answer

More drag and less lift

Answer

Less drag and more lift

Answer

More drag and more lift

Answer

Less drag and less lift

Question 49

What is the difference between spin and spiral dive?

Accepted Answer

Spin: stall at inner wing, speed constant; Spiral dive: airflow at both wings, speed increasing rapidly

Answer

Spin: stall at inner wing, speed increasing rapidly; Spiral dive: airflow at both wings, speed constant

Answer

Spin: stall at outer wing, speed constant; Spiral dive: airflow at both wings, speed increasing rapidly

Answer

Spin: stall at outer wing, speed increasing rapidly; Spiral dive: airflow at both wings, speed constant

Question 50

Which statement about lift and angle of attack is correct?

Accepted Answer

Increasing the angle of attack too far may result in a loss of lift and an airflow separation

Answer

Increasing the angle of attack results in less lift being generated by the aerofoil

Answer

Decreasing the angle of attack results in more drag being generated by the aerofoil

Answer

Too large angles of attack can lead to an exponential increase in lift

Question 51

What engine design at a Touring Motor Glider (TMG) results in least drag?

Accepted Answer

Engine and propeller mounted stowable on the fuselage

Answer

Engine and propeller mounted fixed on the fuselage

Answer

Engine and propeller mounted fixed at the aircraft's nose

Answer

Engine and propeller mounted fixed at the horizontal stabilizer

Question 52

Which point on the aerofoil is represented by number 4? See figure (PFA-009)

Accepted Answer

Separation point

Answer

Transition point

Answer

Stagnation point

Answer

Centre of pressure

Question 53

Following a single-wing stall and pitch-down moment, how can a spin be prevented?

Accepted Answer

Rudder opposite lower wing, releasing elevator to build up speed

Answer

Deflect all rudders opposite to lower wing

Answer

Pushing the elevator to build up speed to re-attach airflow on wings

Answer

Pulling the elevator to bring the plane back to normal attitude

Question 54

How do lift and drag change when approaching a stall condition?

Accepted Answer

Lift decreases and drag increases

Answer

Lift and drag increase

Answer

Lift increases and drag decreases

Answer

Lift and drag decrease

Question 55

Which option states a benefit of wing washout?

Accepted Answer

At high angles of attack the effectiveness of the aileron is retained as long as possible

Answer

With the washout the form drag reduces at high speeds

Answer

Greater hardness because the wing can withstand more torsion forces

Answer

Structurally the wing is made more rigid against rotation

Question 56

What is the function of the horizontal tail (among other things)?

Accepted Answer

To stabilise the aeroplane around the lateral axis

Answer

To stabilise the aeroplane around the longitudinal axis

Answer

To initiate a curve around the vertical axis

Answer

To stabilise the aeroplane around the vertical axis

Question 57

What has to be considered with regard to the centre of gravity position?

Accepted Answer

Only correct loading can assure a correct and safe centre of gravity position

Answer

By moving the elevator trim tab, the centre of gravity can be shifted into a correct position

Answer

The centre of gravity's position can only be determined during flight

Answer

By moving the aileron trim tab, the centre of gravity can be shifted into a correct position

Question 58

Which statement regarding a spin is correct?

Accepted Answer

During recovery the ailerons should be kept neutral

Answer

During the spin the speed constantly increases

Answer

During recovery the ailerons should be crossed

Answer

Only very old aeroplanes have a risk of spinning

Question 59

Which constructive feature has the purpose to reduce steering forces?

Accepted Answer

Aerodynamic rudder balance

Answer

T-tail

Answer

Differential aileron deflection

Answer

Vortex generators

Question 60

Which statement describes a situation of static stability?

Accepted Answer

An aircraft distorted by external impact will return to the original position

Answer

An aircraft distorted by external impact will tend to an even more deflected position

Answer

An aircraft distorted by external impact will maintain the deflected position

Answer

An aircraft distorted by external impact can return to its original position by rudder input

Question 61

Through which factor listed below does the load factor increase during cruise flight?

Accepted Answer

An upward gust

Answer

Lower air density

Answer

A forward centre of gravity

Answer

Higher aeroplane weight

Question 62

The glide ratio of a sailplane can be improved by which measures?

Accepted Answer

Cleaning, correct speed, retractable gear, taped gaps between wing and fuselage

Answer

Higher aeroplane mass, thin airfoil, taped gaps between wing and fuselage

Answer

Lower aeroplane mass, correct speed, retractable gear

Answer

Forward C.G. position, correct speed, taped gaps between wing and fuselage

Question 63

Which effect does a decreasing airspeed have on the induced drag during a horizontal and stable cruise flight?

Accepted Answer

The induced drag will increase

Answer

The induced drag will slightly decrease

Answer

The induced drag will collapse

Answer

The induced drag will remain constant

Question 64

Bernoulli's equation for frictionless, incompressible gases states that...

Accepted Answer

Total pressure = dynamic pressure + static pressure

Answer

Total pressure = dynamic pressure - static pressure

Answer

Static pressure = total pressure + dynamic pressure

Answer

Dynamic pressure = total pressure + static pressure

Exam simulation Principles of Flight (Aeroplane) - SPL - Sailplane Pilot License

Exam simulation SPL Principles of Flight (Aeroplane) 120 questions on 120 minutes

Exam simulation Principles of Flight (Aeroplane) - SPL - Sailplane Pilot License

Exam simulation SPL Principles of Flight (Aeroplane) 120 questions on 120 minutes

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