Untitled Flashcards Set

 Airplane Construction and Aerodynamic Principles of Flight

Airplane Components - 

Fuselage - Semi monocoque … stringers running through it to make it stronger 

Wings - GFRP - Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic 

Empennage - tail (rudder and elevator) GFRP semi-monocoque 

Landing Gear - Sprung steel struts 

Engine/Propeller - Lycombing IO-360

Horizontally opposed, Air cooled, fuel injected, 4 cylinders, 4 stroke, direct drive 

Types of Construction - Truss Structure, Monocoque (formers and stressed skin), Semimonocoque (formers, stressed skin with stringers for reinforcement)

Structure of the Atmosphere - 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, 1% other gasses 

* Atmospheric Pressure - actuates altimeter, airspeed indicator, vertical speed indicator, and manifold pressure gauge

Pressure Altitude - What altitude it "feels" like you are at based on the conditions/ density of the air (altitude indicated when the altimeter is set to 29.92)

Density Altitude - altitude adjusted for nonstandard temperatures 

Theories in the Production of Lift - must overcome gravity and drag, lift generated from the wing that is greater than the force of gravity enables the aircraft to fly 

Airfoil Design - The airfoils/wings are designed so that the air traveling over the top of the wing's curved surface has more distance to cover in the same amount of time (as the air traveling underneath the wing) 


Aerodynamics of Flight

The Four Forces - Lift Weight Thrust Drag

Drag - Lift means drag 

Parasitic drag:  (Increases with speed) Form (the shape of the aircraft going through the air), skin friction (surface slows down air), and interference drag (intersecting airstreams from different parts of the aircraft) 

Induced Drag: Comes with lift (decreases with speed )

Range and Endurance - Range: how far, endurance: how long 

Best Glide - Vg (73) where Induced and Parasite drag meet (least overall drag)

Axes of Flight - Vertical, longitudinal, lateral 

Stability - Effects controllability and maneuverability 3 Types:

Positive: Aircraft will return to its original state 

Neutral: Aircraft will not return to its original state, but will also not continue to get worse 

Negative: The aircraft will not return to its original state and will continue to get worse 

Static: effects on aircraft's stability instantly 

Dynamic: effects on aircraft stability over time 

Aerodynamic Forces in Flight - Lift, drag, thrust, weight 

The angle of Attack - The angle between the chord line and the relative wind 

Stalls - Happens when the critical angle of attack is exceeded 

Spins - One wing more stalled than the other (comes from an uncoordinated turn)

Left Turning Tendencies - TGAS

Torque: clockwise prop = roll left 

Gyroscopic Precession: (tailwheel aircraft) during take off, during descent e 90 degrees ahead in the direction of the rotation (RIGHT SIDE of propeller)

Asymmetric Thrust: The descending blade on the right generates more lift than the ascending blade on the left = left yaw

Spiraling slipstream: propellor wash spirals around the aircraft and hits the left side of the vertical stabilizer = left yaw 

Adverse Yaw - Using the rudders to coordinate a turn 

Ground Effect - The earth's surface interferes with the wingtip vortices (about 1 wingspan away from the ground) 

Load Factors - How heavy the plane feels due to G forces (load on the wings) compared to how much the airplane weighs 

Effects of Weight - More weight: longer take-off and landing distances, opposite for less weight 

Maneuvering Speed - A speed at which you are guaranteed 1 full deflection, on one control, one time without damaging the aircraft 


Weight and Balance

Importance of Weight and Balance - it adjusts out limitations and performance, an overloaded aircraft may not be able to leave the ground, if it does it may have poor flight characteristics

Center of Gravity - where the aircraft is balanced (if hung by a string) weight distributed on each side 

Moment - Force of the weight in a specific spot on the aircraft  (force applied and the distance at which the force is applied) distance of the arm times the aircraft’s weight = inch pounds 

Arm - the distance from a datum to the applied force 

Flight Characteristics and Center of Gravity - 

Weight Change - changes in fuel is an example of this, it just means a change in weight or the distribution 

Weight and Balance for Fuel Burn - predict the amount of fuel that will be burned and use that to calculate the landing weight and distances 

Weight Shift Formula

Moment when at station 150 = 100 lb x 150 in = 15,000 in-lb, Moment when at station 30 = 100 lb x 30 in = 3,000 in-lb

… Moment change = [15,000 – 3,000] = 12,000 in-lb

Total moments = 616,000 in-lb + 12,000 in-lb = 628,000 in-lb, CG = 628,000 in-lb = 78.5 in 8,000 lb 

Weight and Balance Charts and Computations - computational method, graph method, table method, etc. 


Airplane Flight Controls and Systems

Primary Flight Controls - Aileron, elevator, rudder 

Secondary Flight Controls - Flaps, trim systems

Trim - Helps with steady flight (applies forward or back pressure)

Four Cycle Engine - Intake, compression, power, exhaust 

Ignition System - Spark plugs ignite compressed fuel in the cylinders 

Magnetos - spin around an iron core to create an electric current: light the spark plugs 

Exhaust System - underslung = expels heat produced in the cylinders by ignition 

Induction System - mixes air brought in from outside with the fuel mixture 

Carburetor - control and mix air and fuel entering the engine

Carburetor Ice - This can happen when pressure drops on the venturi, it is worst in float-type carburetors. It restricts airflow and power 

Fuel Injection - Fuel is injected directly into the cylinders 

Mixture Control -

Rich: rich in fuel (less air)

Lean: lean in fuel (rich in air)

Fuel System - flow of fuel from the tanks to the engine, then is injected directly into the cylinders

Fuel Colors - 100 LL Blue, 

Oil System - 15W-50 wet sump

Lubricates

Cools

Cleans

Seals gap between cylinder and wall

Engine Cooling -  air-cooled = air flowing into the engine compartment through air intakes in front of the engine cowling (also exhaust, oil system)

Fixed Pitch Propeller - The angle of the propeller remains the same 

Constant Speed Propeller - The angle of the propeller can be adjusted 

Detonation/Pre Ignition - 

Detonation: The fuel in the cylinder explodes rather than burning at a slower controlled speed

Pre Ignition: The fuel in the cylinder is ignited earlier than it is supposed to be 

Heating System - There is a compartment above the engine, air if pulled in from outside and goes through this compartment where it is heated by the heat coming off of the engine, then is pushed into the cabin when cabin heat is turned on 

Hydraulic System - used in break lines to actuate brake pads


Electrical Systems and Instruments

Electrical System - 28-volt DC system = power generation (alternator), storage (battery), distribution (main and essential bus), consumers (electrical fuel pup, radio, lights, etc)

Battery - lead acid (rechargeable) = 10 ampere-hour

And a non-rechargeable lithium emergency battery = backup instruments (gyro) and flood light (1.5 hrs)

Alternator - generator 70 Ampere It is driven by a V-belt, and charges the battery.

Ammeter - current that the alternator is being loaded with 

Voltmeter - potential on the main bus 

Static Pressure - A hole on the side of the fuselage, used to determine vertical speed, altimeter, and airspeed 

Pitot Tube - A small hole on the bottom of the pitot tube where air flows in, used to determine airspeed 

Airspeed Indicator and Markings, Airspeed, Errors - shows airspeed, Errors caused by clogged pitot tube 

Altimeter Operation - change in air pressure (climbs or descent), indicates whether the aircraft is climbing, descending, or in level flight.

Nonstandard Pressure and Temperature - 

Types of Altitude - Indicated (what the altimeter reads), true (above MSL), absolute (vertical distance from the ground, AGL), pressure (altitude indicated when the altimeter is set to 29.92), density ( pressure adjusted for nonstandard temps)

Altimeter Errors - clogged static port, or flying over mountainous terrain can cause this 

Vertical Speed Indicator - the speed at which the aircraft is climbing, descending, or in level flight. 

Operation and Errors: errors will occur if the pitot-static port gets clogged or blocked 

Gyroscopic Principles - Rigidity in Space and Precision are the principles a gyroscope uses Any spinning object exhibits these properties.

Attitude Indicator - Artificial horizon to indicate attidude through flight and manuvers (receives its information from the Attitude Heading and Reference System (AHRS))

Heading Indicator - shows your heading/direction, modeled after a Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI) (receives its information from the magnetometer)

Turn Indicator - Shows the balance between the yaw and roll of the aircraft 

Inclinometer - used for the turning indicator to determine coordination 

Magnetic Compass - used for the heading indicator 

Acceleration and Deceleration Error - In the northern hemisphere, when turning north from a west or east heading, the instruments will read an acceleration, when turning south from the same headings, it will show a deceleration  

Northerly Turning Errors - In the northern hemisphere, if you are on a northern heading and turn east or west, the compass will initially indicate a turn in the opposite direction 

Electronic Flight Displays - ”Glass cockpit” combines all flight instruments onto a single screen, the primary flight display (PFD). Less prone to failure than anolog, Also contains multi-function displays (MFD)

Regulations

Definitions - 

Aircraft - a device that is used or intended to be used for flight in the air

Category - 

With respect to airmen =  Airplane, Rotorcraft, Glider, Lighter-Than-Air etc

With respect to aircraft = Normal, utility, and acrobatic

Class - 

With respect to airmen =  Single Engine Land/Sea, Multi-Engine Land/Sea 

With respect to aircraft = airplane, rotorcraft, glider, balloon 

*Key: 

With respect to the certification of airmen, which is a Class of aircraft?

     Answer: Single-engine land and sea, and multi-engine land and sea

With respect to the certification of airmen, which is a Category of aircraft?

     Answer: Airplane, glider, rotorcraft, lighter-than-air

With respect to the certification of aircraft, which is a Class of aircraft?

     Answer: Airplane, glider, rotorcraft, lighter-than-air

With respect to the certification of aircraft, which is a Category of aircraft?

    Answer: Normal, utility, acrobatic

Look at the letters in the words Category and Class. This trick only works with respect to the certification of airmen, but it won't be hard to fill in the rest.

* CATEGORY - airplane, glider, rotorcraft

  CLASS - land and sea *

This fool-proof trick will get all the Category/Class/Airmen questions. Just remember that for Aircraft, Class is the same as Category for Airmen*

Type Ratings - certifies a pilot to operate a specific aircraft 

Visual Flight Rules - rules for how pilots operate aircraft in weather conditions (based on outside visual references, non IFR)

Night - The time between civil twilight and civil morning 

Pilot In Command - final and deciding authority of everything and all decisions when situations arise in the plane 

Part 61- pertains to the certification of pilots, flight instructors, and ground instructors

Part 141 - certificated by the FAA, the school must meet stringent requirements for personnel, equipment, maintenance, and facilities, and must teach an established curriculum

Part 91 - guidance in the areas of general flight rules, visual flight rules (VFR), and instrument flight rules (IFR), while 14 CFR part 43 covers aircraft maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, and alterations.

NTSB 830 - NOTIFICATION AND REPORTING OF AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS OR INCIDENTS AND OVERDUE AIRCRAFT, AND PRESERVATION OF AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE, MAIL, CARGO, AND RECORDS.