electrical and flight controls

What is the force that tends to hold or slow an aircraft from forward motion?

Drag

What basic flight principle is affected by the shape of the aircraft's configuration (e.g. fuel tanks and munitions)?

Drag

What force is developed by air flowing over the wing faster than the air under the wing causing the aircraft to rise (fly)?

Lift

What five things can affect lift?

(1) Degree of wing curvature (camber)

(2) Size of the wing

(3) Angle of Attack

(4) Velocity of the airflow across the wing surface

(5) Air Density

What is the reaction forced used to accelerate a mass of air rearward (pushing the aircraft forward)?

Thrust

What is the force that attracts an object toward the center of the earth?

Gravity

Which axis of rotation runs lengthwise from nose to tail?

Longitudinal

Which axis of rotation runs wing tip to wing tip?

Lateral

Which axis of rotation runs vertically through the center of the aircraft?

Vertical

Which axis of rotation controls roll?

Longitudinal

Which axis of rotation controls pitch?

Lateral

Which axis of rotation controls yaw?

Vertical

What are the four types of (ways of controlling) flight control systems?

(1) Manual

(2) Boost

(3) Fully Powered

(4) Fly-by-Wire

Which type of fight control system controls surfaces directly through mechanical linkage (cables and/ or push-pull rods)?

Manual

What type of flight control system uses hydraulic actuators to provide assistance to move a surface (if hydraulic pressure is lost, controls can still be operated manually)?

Boost

What type of flight control system has no direct linkage, cockpit controls valves to direct hydraulic fluid to actuators for operating control surfaces (no manual backup)?

Fully Powered

Which type of flight control system transmits inputs to a computer which sends signals to a servo-valve to route hydraulic fluid to actuators operating flight control surfaces (depending on aircraft may/ may not have mechanical backup)?

Fly-By-Wire

What are the three primary flight controls?

(1) Ailerons

(2) Elevators/ Stabilators

(3) Rudder

What primary flight control is located near the outboard trailing edge of the wing and controls roll (yolk)?

Aileron

What primary flight control is located on the trailing edge of the horizontal stabilizer and controls pitch (yolk)?

Elevator/ Stabilator

What is a stabilizer and elevator combined called?

Stabilator

Which type of stabilator moves both sides in the same direction at the same time (connected)?

Solid

Which type of stabilator can move each side independently to assist in roll control of aircraft?

Differential

Which primary flight control is located on the trailing edge of the vertical stabilizer and controls yaw (pedals)?

Rudder

What assists in maintaining a straight and level flight by making minor adjustments to roll, pitch, and yaw?

Primary Flight Control Trim Systems

Which type of trim system moves the entire primary flight control surface to make adjustments?

Surface-Type

Which type of trim system moves small hinged surfaces at the trailing edge of the primary flight control surface?

Tab Type

What are the four secondary flight controls?

(1) Wing Flaps

(2) Slats

(3) Speed Brakes

(4) Spoilers

What secondary flight control is installed on trailing edge of the wings and increases lift and drag?

Wing Flaps

What secondary flight control is located on the leading edge of wings and extends downward into the air stream to increase wing camber, provide additional lift, and a higher angle of attack?

Slats

What secondary flight control is located on or near the fuselage and increases drag to slow the aircraft in flight or on landing roll?

Speed Brakes

What secondary flight control is attached to the upper surface of wings and is extended into air stream to decrease lift/ increase drag (can also be used to assist ailerons)?

Spoilers

True or False:

Some aircraft (our fighters) combine primary and secondary flight controls on a single control surface (e.g. Flaperons and Decelerons)

True

What system coordinates turns and smooths out bumps due to turbulent air (makes a stable platform to launch weapons)?

Stability Augmentation System

Which augmentation system eases the pilots workload by maintaining a preset altitude and course?

Autopilot System

Which augmentation system provides the pilot with feedback resistance to prevent over-control of aircraft (fully powered and boost systems)?

Artificial Feel System

What component of hardware transmits linear motion through the system (may be fixed length or adjustable at either/ both ends)?

Control Rod

What component of hardware guides cables around obstacles and turns?

Pulley

What component of hardware joins cable ends together and permits adjustment of cable tension?

Turnbuckle

What component of hardware joins cable ends together and allows for frequent connection and disconnection of cable ends (reduces need to readjust cable tension)?

Quick Disconnect

What component of hardware keeps cables from contacting aircraft structure to prevent chafing, vibration, and wear?

Fairlead

What component of hardware allows cables to pass through pressurized bulkheads (prevents pressure loss)?

Pressure Seal

What component of hardware transmits rotary motion?

Torque Tube

What component of hardware interconnects cables, control rods and/ or torque tubes (can change direction of movement where needed)?

Quadrant

What component of hardware changes the direction of force of control rods and cables?

Bellcrank

What component of hardware maintains cable tension during various air loads and changes in ambient temperature?

Cable Tension Regulator

What is the negatively charged part of an atom?

Electron

What is the flow of electrons through a conductor?

Current

What unit is current measured in?

Amperes (AMPS)

What are the two types of current?

Direct Current (DC) and Alternating Current (AC)

Which type of current is a continuous flow of electrons in one direction through a circuit?

Direct Current (DC)

What type of current reverses direction in a circuit at regular intervals (back and forth)?

Alternating Current (AC)

What is the electromotive force that pushes current through a conductor?

Voltage

What is the opposition of current flow called?

Resistance

What unit is resistance measure in?

Ohms (Ω)

What is the number of complete cycles AC makes per second called?

Frequency

What unit is frequency measured in?

Hertz (Hz)

What is a material that permits the flow of electrical current called?

Conductor

What is a material that prevents or isolates the flow of electrical current called (Typically found around a conductor to contain electrical current)?

Insulator

What protective device has a metal strip that melts when enough heat is generated by excess current?

Fuse

What protective device trips and opens the circuit when there is excess current flow (can be reset after cool-down period)?

Circuit Breaker

What component can stop, start, vary, or change the direction of current flow?

Control Device

What type of control device operates by moving a toggle (lever) to open or close a circuit?

Toggle Switch

What type of control device is a micro switch: requires a small movement to contact linkage to a moving surface which opens or closes a circuit (refrigerator)?

Limit Switch

What is installed to protect toggle switches from accidentally being activated/ deactivated (e.g. flight controls, landing gear, high voltage electrical currents)?

Guard Switches

What color is the guard switch that closes over a toggle switch without affecting the position (on/ off)?

Black

What color is the guard switch that closes over a switch and forces a specific (defaulted) position?

Red

What kind of guard switch uses cover guards with a hole for finger access or will hinge to the side for access?

Push-Button Switch

What component of an AC system contains controls and indicators necessary to operate and monitor the electrical system?

Electrical Control Panel

What component of an AC system is the power distribution point for all AC circuits?

AC Bus Bar

What component mechanically generates AC electrical power to operate aircraft systems?

AC Generator/ Alternator Drive Units

What component is engine driven and uses oil pressure to rotate the AC generator at a constant speed maintaining frequency (Hz)?

Constant Speed Drive (CSD)

What is the combination of a CSD and AC Generator called?

Integrated Drive Generator (IDG)

What component regulates generator output to protect the electrical system?

Generator Control Unit (GCU)

What component steps down voltage and converts AC to DC power?

Transformer Rectifier (TR)

What component is the connection point for an external electrical cord?

External Electrical Power Receptacle

What system provides electrical power in emergencies and contains an emergency generator and emergency generator control unit?

Emergency Power System

What electrical system uses a battery to provide initial, emergency, or auxiliary power?

Direct Current (DC)

How many volts is an aircraft battery normally rated at?

28 Volts

What is the power distribution point for DC Systems?

DC Bus Bar

What uses graphic/ electronic symbols to trace circuits and learn the overall system operation (is a simple version)

Electrical Schematic

What uses graphic/ electronic symbols to trace circuits, identify types and sizes of wires, and is used to troubleshoot and repair systems (more detailed)?

Wiring Diagram

True or False:

Schematics and Wiring Diagrams are often used in conjunction to troubleshoot and repair an electrical system

True