Stage 1 ground systems and aerodynamics

What is an airfoil?

A shape designed to generate lift when air flows over it

breakdown the lift equation (L = CL × ½ρ × V² × S)

CL = Coefficient of lift

ρ = Air density

V = Velocity

S = Wing surface area

What is adverse yaw?

The tendency of the aircraft to yaw opposite the direction of a turn due to drag from the lowered aileron.

How is adverse yaw corrected?

With coordinated rudder input in the direction of the turn.

what is the limit load factor for normal category aircraft?

-1.52 Gs to 3.8 Gs

What is maneuvering speed (Va)?

The maximum speed at which you can make full, abrupt control inputs. (without overstressing the aircraft)

What does “360” in IO-360 mean?

The engine has 360 cubic inches of displacement

What does “180 horsepower at 2700 RPM” mean?

The engine produces 180 HP when operating at 2700 revolutions per minute — its max rated power setting.

What does “horizontally opposed” mean in an aircraft engine?

Cylinders are laid flat in two opposing banks — helps keep engine profile low and balanced.

What component spins the propeller?

The crankshaft

what is the crankshaft powered by ?

the piston movement via connecting rods.

How does a constant speed propeller work?

it uses engine oil pressure and a governor to change blade pitch automatically to maintain a constant RPM despite changes in airspeed or power setting.

What happens to the constant speed prop if oil pressure is lost?

The blades move to low pitch/high rpm

if you put mixture full lean what would happen to the propeller

propeller will stop generating thrust

What are the two main components of the G1000?

PFD and MFD

What information does the PFD show?

Attitude, airspeed, altitude, heading, VSI, turn coordinator — replaces six-pack.

What does the MFD show?

Navigation (moving map), engine info (engine page), traffic, and weather (if available).

What backup instruments are in case of G1000 failure?

Analog airspeed indicator, attitude indicator (vacuum or battery), and altimeter.

Which instrument uses both the pitot and static system?

Airspeed Indicator

Which instruments use the static system?

Altimeter and VSI

what happens if the pitot tube is blocked but drain hole is open?

Airspeed reads zero.

when the Airspeed starts acting like an altimeter what does that mean

both the pitot and drain hole are blocked

How are the gyros powered?

vacuum system: Attitude and heading indicators

Electric system: Turn coordinator (in most aircraft)

How does the airspeed indicator work?

takes ram air pressure from the pitot tube and compares it to static air pressure

How does the altimeter work?

It measures static pressure to determine altitude using aneroid wafers that expand and contract

How does the VSI work?

It detects rate of change(climb or descent) in static pressure using a calibrated leak

What happens if the static port is blocked?

Altimeter freezes

VSI reads zero

Airspeed becomes inaccurate (reads low in climb, high in descent)

What is alternate static source used for?

it provides backup static pressure from inside the cabin when the external static port is blocked.

What are the three primary gyroscopic instruments?

Attitude Indicator

Heading Indicator

Turn Coordinator

What two principles do gyroscopic instruments rely on?

Rigidity in space and Precession

what does rigidity in space mean

gyro resists changes in orientation

what does precession mean

force applied to a gyro shows up 90° later in the direction of rotation

How does the attitude indicator work?

It uses a gyroscope mounted horizontally that stays rigid

How does the heading indicator work?

It uses a vertical gyro to maintain direction. (requires manual realignment with the magnetic compass due to precession)

How does the turn coordinator work?

uses a canted gyro to sense the rate of roll and yaw,(axis is rotated 30 degrees)

Which gyroscopic instrument is electrically powered?

Turn coordinator

Why is the heading indicator not self-aligning?

It precesses over time due to internal friction (must sync with compass)

what are the 4 strokes to a engine

intake, compression, combustion (or power), and exhaust

what are the amps in battery of da40

13.6 amps

what type of planform does the wing stall from the root

Rectangular

what are ways you can reduce wingtip vortices

Winglets and tapering the wing

what is the load factor for utility aircraft

-1.76 G’s to 4.4 G’s

what is the load factor for acrobatic

-3.0 G’s to 6.0 G’s

at low airspeeds what does the aircraft control response feel like

soft and sluggish (mushy)

at high airspeeds what would the aircraft control response feel like

firm and rapid

what are the cylinders arranged around

crankshaft

what are the type of cylinder arrangements

radial, in-line, v-type, and horizontally opposed

what is a radial arrangement

These engines have rows of cylinders that are arranged in a circular pattern around the crankshaft. (Think of a clock)

what is a in line arrangement

These engines are aligned in one single row versus multiple rows (Think in-line, in line)

what is a v-type arrangement

These types of engines are arranged in a V-Pattern. (Think of the shape of the letter V)

what is a horizontally opposed arrangement

the cylinders are arranged on either side of the central crankshaft horizontally

what is the difference between turbo engines and reciprocating engine

turbo engines perform the 4 strokes simultaneously and generate a lot more power

what type of engine does a DA40 have?

reciprocating engine

what does naturally aspirated mean

No fan or turbo on the front, cannot continue to perform the same at higher altitudes (no forced induction).

what does a direct driven engine mean

the crankshaft directly turns the propeller turns, no gear reduction box

how many spark plugs per cylinder

2

how many cylinders does the DA40 have

4

if the electrical system fails what keeps the engine going

magnetos

what is the size of a constant speed propeller

74in diameter

what type of blade does the propeller have

Variable pitch blade

how is the propeller regulated

Hydraulically

what does the govenor do

Changes the pitch angle of the propeller

what happens to the propeller if you push the blue lever(governor) forward

the propeller is gonna take a smaller bite of air. (low pitch)

what happens to the propeller if you pull the blue lever(governor) back

the propeller is gonna take a bigger bite of air (high pitch)

what powers the starter

battery

what turns the fly wheel

starter

what is a common issue with fuel injected systems

vapor lock(turning from a liquid to a gas)

What does the heading indicator need to stay accurate?

Periodic realignment with the magnetic compass

what information does the AHRS provide

Attitude, heading, rate of turn, slip/skid

what information does the air data computer(ADC) provide

Airspeed, altitude, VSI, OAT, altimeter