Aircraft Characteristics & Recognition

What are aircraft categories used?

To determine same runway separation

What are the 3 aircraft categories?

Cat I, Cat II, and Cat III

What is the weight requirement for an aircraft to be Cat 1?

12,500 pounds or less

What is the engine requirement for an aircraft to be Cat 1?

Single-engine

Do Cat I aircrafts have a propeller?

Yes (exclusively)

What category are helicopters?

One

What is the weight requirement for an aircraft to be Cat 2?

12,500 pounds or less

What is the engine requirement for an aircraft to be Cat 2?

Twin engine

Does Cat 2 aircraft have a propeller?

Yes (exclusively)

How can you describe Cat 3 aircraft?

All aircraft that isn’t Cat 1 or 2 (jets!)

What are the 9 factors that affect an aircraft’s performance?

1. Weather conditions

2. Load

3. Engine performance

4. Aircraft configuration

5. Pilot’s ability

6. Speed

7. Altitude

8. Climb rate

9. Weight class

What are aircraft weight classes used for?

Wake turbulence separation

What are the 4 weight classes of aircraft?

1. Small

2. Large

3. Heavy

4. Super

What is the weight requirement for an aircraft to be considered small?

41,000 pounds or less MOW (maximum certified takeoff weight)

What is the weight requirement for an aircraft to be Small+?

Between 12,500 and 41,000 pounds

What is the weight requirement for an aircraft to be considered large?

More than 41,000 pounds up to but not including 300,000 pounds

What is the weight requirement for an aircraft to be considered heavy?

300,000 pounds or more

What are the two aircraft types that are considered super?

1. Airbus 388

2. Antonov 225

How many consolidated wake turbulence (CWT) classes are there?

9

What are the considerations when dividing aircraft into consolidated wake turbulence classes? (2 things)

1. Weight

2. Wingspan

What is the general speed capability of a Cat 1 aircraft?

100-160 knots

What is the general altitude capability of a Cat 1 aircraft?

10,000 feet or below

What is the general climb rate of a Cat 1 aircraft?

1,000 feet per minute or less

What is the general weight class of a Cat 1 aircraft?

Small (S)

What is the general CWT category of a Cat 1 aircraft?

I

What is the general speed capability of a Cat 2 aircraft?

160-250 knots

What is the general altitude capability of a Cat 2 aircraft?

FL240 and below

What is the general climb rate of a Cat 2 aircraft?

1,000-2,000 feet per minute

What is the general weight class of a Cat 2 aircraft?

Small (S)

What is the general speed capability of a Cat 3 aircraft?

300-550 knots

What is the general altitude capability of a Cat 3 aircraft?

FL 450 and below

What is the general climb rate of a Cat 3 aircraft?

2,000-4,000 feet per minute

What is the general speed capability of a helicopter?

90-160 knots

What is the general altitude capability of a helicopter?

FL200 and below

What is the general climb rate of a helicopter?

500-2150 feet per minute

What are the two things an aircraft’s designator is derived from?

1. Manufacturer’s model number/name

2. Common military type

What are aircraft designators used for? (3 things)

1. Flight progress strips

2. Data blocks

3. ATC Communications

How long can an aircraft designator be?

2-4 characters

What does the first character denote in an aircraft designator?

Manufacturer

Can designators have numbers and letters?

Yes

What are the 2 elements of information military designators use?

1. Basic mission (letter denotes the aircraft’s primary function)

2. Design numbers (denotes the design/series)

What are the 9 identification features of an aircraft?

1. Size

2. Engine location & number

3. Engine type

4. Wing placement

5. Wing configuration

6. Tail configuration

7. Windows

8. Fuselage

9. Landing gear

Where can an engine be found? (4 locations)

1. On fuselage (two engines)

2. Under wing (two engines)

3. Under wing and through tail (three engines)

4. Under wing (four engines)

What are the three types of engines?

1. Reciprocating

2. Turboprop

3. Turbojet

What is the engine type that’s mostly found on single-engine or light twin-engine aircraft and operates a propeller?

Reciprocating

What’s the engine type that’s a turbine engine and that operates a propeller?

Turboprop

What’s the engine type that’s commonly referred to as a ‘jet’ engine and has no propeller?

Turbojet

What engine type operates on gasoline and is the lowest performing?

Reciprocating

What’s the engine type that operates on jet fuel and is better than reciprocating engines?

Turboprop

What’s the engine type that derives power from thrust/exhaust gases and is currently the highest performance?

Turbojet

What’s the horsepower on a reciprocating engine?

60-350

What are the three types of wing placement?

1. High-wing

2. Mid-wing

3. Low-wing

What are the two types of wing placement that aren’t as common?

1. Bi-wing

2. Canard

What are the three basic wing configurations?

1. Straight-wing

2. Swept-wing

3. Delta-wing

What are the 5 most common tail configurations?

1. Conventional

2. Forward slant vertical stabilizer

3. Horizontal stabilizer above fuselage

4. T tail

5. V tail

What are the 5 types of window shapes?

1. Oval

2. Round

3. Bubble canopy

4. Teardrop

5. Square

What are the three factors that determine shape of fuselage?

1. Aircraft’s design function

2. Type of power plant or engine used

3. Materials used

What are the two basic types of landing gear?

1. Tricycle

2. Conventional

What are the two types of landing gear, while operating in the sky?

1. Fixed

2. Retractable