FAA PPL Written Exam Practice Flashcards

A comprehensive set of 200 practice Q&A flashcards covering aircraft systems, aerodynamics, weather, navigation, performance, human factors, regulations, and flight calculations for the FAA PPL exam.

What powers the aircraft electrical systems after the engine has started?

Alternator

What are the primary uses of the battery in an aircraft?

Start + backup power

What is a major danger associated with a carburetor-equipped engine?

Carb ice

What does carburetor ice prevent from reaching the engine?

Airflow to engine

What is a primary advantage of a fuel injection system regarding icing?

No carb ice

What does the pitot tube measure?

Airspeed

What measurements are provided by the static port?

Altitude + VSI

Which instrument fails if the pitot tube becomes blocked?

Airspeed indicator

What occurs to flight instruments if the static port is blocked?

Altimeter + VSI error

What is the correct order of the 4-stroke engine cycle?

Intake, compression, power, exhaust

Which force moves the airplane forward?

Thrust

Which force slows the airplane down?

Drag

In the event of an alternator failure, what serves as the electrical backup?

Battery

What is the function of an electrical bus?

Power distribution

What is the purpose of the fuel pump?

Fuel pressure

What does a lean mixture indicate?

Less fuel, more air

What does a rich mixture indicate?

More fuel

How should the fuel-air mixture be adjusted at high altitude?

Lean it

What is the dual purpose of engine oil?

Lubrication + cooling

What source powers the magnetos?

Engine (no battery)

What is the primary purpose of having dual magnetos?

Redundancy

What type of aerodynamic device is a propeller?

Wing (rotating airfoil)

What defines a fixed pitch propeller?

One angle

What characterizes a constant speed propeller?

Adjustable pitch

What does the redline RPM indicate on the tachometer?

Do not exceed

What are the four fundamental forces acting on an aircraft?

Lift, weight, thrust, drag

Upon what two factors does lift primarily depend?

Airflow + AOA

What causes an aerodynamic stall?

Critical AOA exceeded

What factors affect stall speed?

Weight, load factor

How does a steep turn affect stall speed?

Increases stall speed

What is the best glide speed defined by?

Max lift/drag ratio

What are the two primary types of drag?

Parasite + induced

Which type of drag increases as airspeed increases?

Parasite drag

When does induced drag increase?

Low speed/high AOA

What is the definition of Angle of Attack (AOA)?

Wing angle vs airflow

How does increasing AOA affect lift (up to a specific limit)?

Lift increases

What happens when the wing is pitched beyond the critical AOA?

Stall

What is the purpose of deploying flaps?

Increase lift + drag

What is the primary purpose of the wing's shape?

Lift

What is characteristic of the stability of a high wing aircraft?

More stable

How does a forward Center of Gravity (CG) affect stability?

More stable

How does an aft Center of Gravity (CG) affect stability?

Less stable

What causes changes in the load factor during flight?

Turbulence

What is load factor equivalent to?

$$\text{G force}$$

What is maneuvering speed designed to protect against?

Stall protection speed

Why is a stall particularly dangerous during a turn?

Higher load factor

What phenomenon causes wake turbulence?

Wingtip vortices

Under what configuration is wake turbulence at its worst?

Heavy, slow, clean config

What is a key factor in the lift formula?

Air density

What is the Bernoulli principle?

Faster air = lower pressure

What weather report provides current observations at an airport?

METAR

What weather format is used for forecasts?

TAF

How is wind direction reported in METARs?

True direction

In what units is visibility measured?

Statute miles

What does a ceiling mean in weather reporting?

Broken/overcast lowest layer

What three elements are required for a thunderstorm to form?

Moisture + lift + instability

What type of weather is typically associated with a cold front?

Severe, fast storms

What type of weather is typically associated with a warm front?

Gradual clouds/rain

What type of flight experience does stable air provide?

Smooth flight

What characteristic of flight is associated with unstable air?

Turbulence

What is the primary hazard caused by fog?

Low visibility

Under what conditions does icing occur?

Visible moisture + freezing temp

Which type of ice is considered the most dangerous?

Clear ice

What are the characteristics of rime ice?

Rough, milky

What is mixed ice?

Both types

What is the definition of hypoxia?

Low oxygen

At approximately what altitude does hypoxia start to become a risk?

$$\sim 10,000\,ft+$$

What performance factor does frost reduce?

Lift

At what altimeter setting is pressure altitude defined?

$$29.92$$

When does density altitude (DA) increase?

Hot + high + humid

What is the effect of a high density altitude (DA) on aircraft performance?

Worse performance

What is the dew point?

Temp where condensation starts

What is the standard METAR wind format?

$$\text{degrees} + \text{knots}$$

What does a gust indicate in a wind report?

Sudden increase wind

What does the abbreviation LLWS represent?

Low level wind shear

What do CB (Cumulonimbus) clouds indicate?

Thunderstorms

What are common visibility hazards mentioned in the notes?

haze/smog

What are the types of precipitation listed?

rain, snow, sleet

What do triangles on a front symbol indicate?

Cold front

What do cirrus clouds generally indicate?

Weather change

What is a VOR?

Ground radio nav

What is GPS?

Satellite nav

What information does a sectional chart provide?

Airspace + terrain

What is the cause of magnetic variation compass error?

Magnetic variation

What is the term for the difference between True North and Magnetic North?

Variation

What navigation method uses time, speed, and heading?

Dead reckoning

Which speed is affected by wind?

Ground speed

How is a crosswind corrected for during navigation?

Crab angle

What is the minimum visibility for VFR in most airspaces?

$$3\,SM$$

How are VOR radials measured?

From station

What does the CDI (Course Deviation Indicator) show?

Course deviation

How is GPS accuracy improved?

WAAS

In which direction do latitude lines run?

East-west

In which direction do longitude lines run?

North-south

How is altitude represented on a sectional chart?

MSL

In sectional chart terrain coloring, what do green and brown represent?

Green low, brown high

What are the three types of airspeed mentioned?

IAS, TAS, GS

What happens to TAS (True Airspeed) as altitude increases?

TAS increases

How is magnetic heading related to compass heading?

Compass heading

What is compass deviation?

Aircraft error