Aircraft Principles

Revision Questions
Aircraft principle. ENG1017-N

1. Density:-

a. Is unaffected by temperature change.

b. Reduces with altitude increase.

c. Increases with altitude increase.

d. Reduces with temperature reduction.

2. The air pressure that acts on anything immersed in it:-

a. Is also known as Dynamic Pressure.

b. Is greater at altitude than at sea level.

c. Is also known as Static Pressure.

d. Is also known as Total Pressure.

3. If, on a given day, the actual outside air temperature at 4000 ft is 23°C, what is the
approximate difference between the actual and ISA temperature?

a. 8°C.

b. 7°C.

c. 15°C.

d. 16°C.

4. The presence of water vapour:-

a. In air will reduce its density.

b. In air will increase its density.

c. In the atmosphere will increase the power output of a piston engine.

d. In the atmosphere will increase the amount of lift generated by an aircraft.

5. When considering the changes in density of the air with altitude, which of the
following four options is correct?

a. The reduction in pressure with increasing altitude causes density to reduce.

b. The temperature increase with increasing altitude causes density to increase.

c. The temperature reduction with increasing altitude causes density to increase.

d. The increase in pressure with increasing altitude causes density to reduce.

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Aircraft principle. ENG1017-N

6. The respective percentages of the four most abundant gases that make up the
atmosphere are?

a. Oxygen 78% Nitrogen 21% Argon 0.95% Carbon Dioxide 0.05%

b. Nitrogen 78% Oxygen 21% Argon 0.95% Carbon Monoxide 0.05%

c. Nitrogen 78% Oxygen 21% Argon 0.95% Carbon Dioxide 0.05%

d. Oxygen 78% Nitrogen 21% Argon 0.95% Carbon Monoxide 0.05%

7. The properties of the Earth’s atmosphere that influence the performance of aircraft
are:

a. Its temperature, pressure and humidity.

b. Its oxygen content pressure, and water vapour content

c. Its nitrogen content, oxygen content, temperature and pressure.

d. Its water vapour content, temperature, pressure and density.

8. Assuming that the pressure at sea level is ISA, but the temperature is 10°C higher
than ISA, the density will be:

a. As per ISA.

b. Less than ISA.

c. Greater than ISA.

d. Unaffected.

9. Air pressure: -

a. Acts only vertically downwards.

b. Is measured in Pascal’s per square inch.

c. Acts in all directions.

d. Increases with altitude.

10. A piston engine aircraft flies in that layer of the atmosphere called:

a. The Tropopause.

b. The Stratosphere.

c. The Mesosphere.

d. The Troposphere.

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Aircraft principle. ENG1017-N

11. In straight and level powered flight the following principal forces act on an aircraft:

a. Thrust lift, drag

b. Thrust lift, weight

c. Thrust lift, drag, weight

d. Lift, drag, weight.

12. The unit of force is the:

a. Newton.

b. Newton-metre.

c. Joule.

d. Mass-kilogram.

13. The dynamic pressure exerted on an aircraft's frontal surface is equal to:

a. Density time’s speed squared

b. Half the density times the true airspeed squared.

c. Half the true airspeed times the density squared.

d. Half the density times the indicated airspeed squared.

14. Relative airflow is _ and the movement of the aircraft.

a. Perpendicular to / in the same direction as.

b. Perpendicular to / Opposite to.

c. Parallel to / Opposite to.

d. Parallel to / in the same direction as.

15. The symbol for dynamic pressure is:

a. R

b. P

c. Q

d. D

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Aircraft principle. ENG1017-N

16. The airflow over the wing's upper surface in straight and level flight, when
compared with the airflow that is unaffected by the wing, will have:

a. A higher density.

b. A higher velocity.

c. A reduced velocity.

d. The same velocity.

17. Which of the four answer options most correctly completes the sentence?
Increasing speed also increases lift because:

a. The increased speed of the air passing over an aerofoil's upper surface decreases
the static pressure above the wing, thus creating a greater pressure differential
across the upper and lower surface.

b. Lift is directly proportional to velocity.

c. The increased velocity of the relative wind overcomes the increased drag.

d. Increasing speed decreases drag.

18. An aircraft has a nose down pitching moment due to the lift/weight couple and a
nose up pitching moment due to the thrust/drag couple. When power is increased:

a. The couples both decrease in magnitude but remain balanced.

b. It will pitch nose down.

c. The couples both increase in magnitude but remain balanced.

d. It will pitch nose up.

19. Considering the forces acting upon an aeroplane, at constant airspeed, which
statement is correct?

a. Lift acts perpendicular to the chord line and must always be greater than weight.

b. Weight always acts vertically downwards towards the centre of the Earth.

c. Thrust acts parallel to the relative airflow and is greater than drag.

d. The lift force generated by the wings always acts in the opposite direction to the
aircraft's weight.

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Aircraft principle. ENG1017-N

20. In straight and level flight, the free stream airflow pressure, compared to that
flowing under the wing, is:

a. Higher.

b. Equal.

c. Lower.

d. Equal pressure but travelling faster.

21. If the cross sectional area of an airflow is mechanically reduced:

a. The velocity of the airflow remains constant and the kinetic energy increases.

b. The velocity of the airflow remains constant and the mass flow increases.

c. The mass flow remains constant and the static pressure increases.

d. The mass flow remains constant and the velocity of the airflow increases.

22. Dynamic pressure is:

a. The amount by which the pressure rises at a point where a moving airflow is
brought completely to rest.

b. The total pressure at a point where a moving airflow is brought completely to rest.

c. The pressure due to the mass of air pressing down on the air beneath.

d. The pressure change caused by heating when a moving airflow is brought

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Aircraft principle. ENG1017-N

23. When considering air:

1 - Air has mass

2 - Air is not compressible

3 - Air is able to flow or change its shape when subject to even small pressures

4 - The viscosity of air is very high

5 - Moving air has kinetic energy

The correct combination of all true statements is:

a. 2, 3 and 4.

b. 1, 2. 3 and 5.

c. 1, 3, and 5.

d. 1 and 4.

24. An aircraft rotates about:

a. Its wings.

b. Its centre of gravity.

c. Its main undercarriage.

d. Its rudder.

25. An aircraft's mass is a result of:

a. How much matter it contains.

b. Its weight

c. How big it is.

d. Its volume.

26. Dynamic pressure equals:

a. Total pressure divided by static pressure.

b. Total pressure plus static pressure.

c. Static pressure minus total pressure.

d. Total pressure minus static pressure.

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Aircraft principle. ENG1017-N

27. If the velocity of an air mass is increased:

a. The dynamic pressure will decrease and the static pressure will increase.

b. The kinetic energy will increase, the dynamic pressure will increase and the static
pressure will decrease.

c. The static pressure will remain constant and the kinetic energy will increase.

d. The mass flow will stay constant, the dynamic pressure will decrease and the
static pressure will increase.

28. The boundary layer consists of:

a. Turbulent flow at low speeds only.

b. Laminar flow.

c. Turbulent flow.

d. Laminar and Turbulent flow.

29. What must be the relationship between the forces acting on an aircraft in flight, for
that aircraft to be in a state of equilibrium?

a. Lift must equal drag, and thrust must equal weight.

b. Lift must equal weight, and thrust must equal drag.

c. Lift must equal thrust plus drag.

d. Lift must equal thrust, and weight must equal drag.

30. The smooth flow of air, where each molecule follows the path of the preceding
molecule, is a definition of:

a. Free stream flow.

b. Turbulent flow.

c. Laminar flow.

d. Wind.

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Aircraft principle. ENG1017-N

31. In sub-sonic airflow, as air passes through a venturi, the mass flow , the
velocity and the static pressure .

a. Remains constant / increases then decreases / increases then decreases.

b. Decreases then increases / remains constant / increases then decreases.

c. Remains constant / increases then decreases / decreases then increases.

d. Decreases then increases / increases then decreases / increases then decreases.

32. A moving mass of air possesses kinetic energy. An object placed in the path of
such a moving mass of air will be subject to:

a. Dynamic pressure minus static pressure.

b. Static Pressure.

c. Dynamic pressure.

d. Static pressure and dynamic pressure.

33. Dynamic Pressure may be expressed by the formula:

1 2
a. Q¿ vρ
2

2 2
b. Q= ρ v
1

1 2
c. Q = ρ v
2

1 2
d. Q = ρv
2

34. As airspeed increases, induced drag:

a. Decreases.

b. Increases.

c. Is dependent on the weight of the aircraft?

d. Remains unchanged.

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Aircraft principle. ENG1017-N

35. As Indicated Air Speed (IAS) is reduced, in order to maintain altitude, the pilot
must:

a. Deploy the speed brakes to increase drag.

b. Decrease the angle of attack to reduce the drag.

c. Increase the angle of attack to maintain the correct lift force.

d. Reduce the thrust.

36. That portion of the aircraft's total drag created by the production of lift is called:

a. Parasite drag, which is greatly affected by changes in airspeed.

b. Induced drag, which is greatly affected by changes in airspeed.

c. Induced drag, which is not affected by changes in airspeed.

d. Parasite drag, which is inversely proportional to the square of the airspeed.

37. By changing the Angle of Attack of a wing, the pilot can control the aeroplane's:

a. Lift, airspeed, and drag.

b. Lift and airspeed, but not drag.

c. Lift, gross weight, and drag.

d. Lift and drag, but not airspeed.

38. Resistance, or skin friction, due to the viscosity of the air as it passes along the
surface of a wing, is a type of:

a. Interference drag.

b. Induced drag.

c. Form drag.

d. Parasite drag.

39. If the Indicated Air Speed of an aircraft is increased from 60 Kts to 120 Kts,
parasite drag will be:

a. Six times greater.

b. Four times greater.

c. Two times greater.

d. One quarter as much.

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Aircraft principle. ENG1017-N

40. An imaginary straight line running from the midpoint of the leading edge of an
aerofoil to its trailing edge, is called the:

a. Chord.

b. Mean camber.

c. Aerofoil thickness.

d. Maximum camber.

41. A positively cambered aerofoil starts to produce lift at an angle of attack of

a. 16 degrees.

b. 0 degrees.

c. 4 to 6 degrees.

d. Minus 4 degrees.

42. On an aerofoil section, the force of lift acts perpendicular to, and the force of drag
acts parallel to, the:

a. Flightpath.

b. Longitudinal axis.

c. Chord line.

d. Aerofoil section upper surface.

43. As airspeed increases induced drag _, parasite drag and total drag
?

a. Increases / Decreases / Increases then decreases.

b. Increases / Increases / Increases

c. Decreases / Increases / Decreases then increases.

d. Decreases / Decreases / Decreases

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Aircraft principle. ENG1017-N

44. If in level flight the airspeed decreases below that for maximum Lift/Drag, the
effect will be that:

a. Drag decreases because of lower induced drag.

b. Drag increases because of increased induced drag.

c. Drag increases because of increased parasite drag.

d. Drag decreases because of lower parasite drag.

45. The angle of attack is the angle between the:

a. Chord line and the relative airflow.

b. Camber line and free stream flow.

c. Chord line and the longitudinal axis of the aeroplane.

d. Chord line and the horizontal plane.

46. The maximum value of the coefficient of lift is found at an angle of attack of
approximately:

a. 4 to 6 degrees.

b. Minus 4 degrees.

c. 0 degrees.

d. 16 degrees.

47. At a constant angle of attack, a decrease in the airspeed of an aircraft will result
in:

a. An increase in lift and a decrease in drag.

b. A decrease in lift and drag.

c. An increase in drag and a decrease in lift.

d. Possible increases or decreases in lift or drag, depending on the actual speed.

48. If the Angle of Attack and other factors remain constant, and the airspeed is
doubled, lift will be:

a. One quarter of what it was.

b. Doubled.

c. Quadrupled.

d. The same.

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Aircraft principle. ENG1017-N

49. The definition of lift is:

a. The aerodynamic force that acts at 90° to the relative airflow.

b. The aerodynamic force that acts perpendicular to the chord line of the aerofoil.

c. The aerodynamic force that results from the pressure differentials about an
aerofoil.

d. The aerodynamic force that acts perpendicular to the upper surface of the aerofoil.

50. Which of the answer options most correctly completes the sentence? The amount
of lift a wing produces is directly proportional to -

a. The air density.

b. The dynamic pressure minus the static pressure.

c. The square root of the velocity of the air flowing over it.

d. The air temperature.

51. The maximum value of the Coefficient of Lift is found:

a. During steep turns.

b. At negative angles of attack.

c. When lift equals drag.

d. At the stalling angle of attack.

52. At a given Indicated Air Speed, what effect will an increase in air density have on
lift and drag?

a. Lift and drag will remain the same.

b. Lift will increase but drag will decrease.

c. Lift and drag will increase.

d. Lift and drag will decrease.

53. An aerofoil section is designed to produce lift resulting from a difference in the:

a. Higher air pressure at the leading edge than at the trailing edge.

b. Negative air pressure below and a vacuum above the surface.

c. Vacuum below the surface and greater air pressure above the surface.

d. Higher air pressure below the surface and lower air pressure above the surface.

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Aircraft principle. ENG1017-N

54. Full flaps should be selected when:

a. Commencing final approach.

b. Committed to land.

c. On go-around.

d. Landing into a strong headwind.

55. A wing, which is inclined downwards from root to tip, is said to have:

a. Sweep.

b. Washout.

c. Taper.

d. Anhedral.

56. When the C of G is close to the forward limit:

a. Very high stick forces are required to pitch because the aircraft is very stable.

b. Very small forces are required on the control column to produce pitch.

c. Longitudinal stability is reduced.

d. Stick forces are the same as for an aft C of G.

57. Following a lateral disturbance, an aircraft with Dutch roll instability will:

a. Develop oscillations in pitch.

b. Go into a spiral dive.

c. Develop simultaneous oscillations in roll and yaw.

d. Develop an unchecked roll.

58. An aeroplane that is inherently stable will:

a. Have a built-in tendency to return to its original state following the removal of any
Disturbing force.

b. Require less effort to control.

c. Be difficult to stall.

d. Not spin.

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Aircraft principle. ENG1017-N

59. After a disturbance in pitch, an aircraft oscillates in pitch with increasing

a. Statically and dynamically unstable.

b. Statically stable but dynamically unstable.

c. Statically unstable but dynamically stable.

d. Statically and dynamically stable.

60. If a disturbing force causes an aircraft to roll:

a. Wing dihedral will cause a nose up pitching moment.

b. The fin will cause a yawing moment that reduces the sideslip.

c. Wing dihedral will cause a yawing moment that tends to correct the sideslip.

d. Wing dihedral will cause a rolling moment that tends to correct the sideslip.

61. If the wing Aerodynamic Centre is forward of the C of G:

a. When the aircraft sideslips, the CofG causes the nose to turn into the sideslip thus
applying a restoring moment.

b. Changes in lift produce a wing pitching moment that acts to reduce the change of
lift.

c. Changes in lift give no change in wing pitching moment.

d. Changes in lift produce a wing pitching moment that acts to increase the change of
lift.

62. By design, the Centre of Pressure on a particular aircraft remains behind the
aircraft's C of G. If the aircraft is longitudinally stable and is displaced in pitch, nose
down, by turbulence:

a. The tail plane will generate a downward force.

b. The tail plane will generate an upward force.

c. Neither an upward nor a downward force will be generated by the tail plane, as the
aircraft will already be in equilibrium.

d. The aircraft will maintain its nose-down attitude.

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Aircraft principle. ENG1017-N

63. Wing dihedral produces a stabilising rolling moment by causing an increase in lift:

a. On the up-going wing when the aircraft is side slipping.

b. On the up-going wing when the aircraft rolls.

c. On the lower wing when the aircraft is side slipping.

d. On the lower wing whenever the aircraft is in a banked attitude.

64. When an aircraft is disturbed from its established flight path by, for example,
turbulence, it is said to have positive stability if it subsequently:

a. Continues to pitch in the disturbed direction until the displacement is resisted by

b. Remains on the new flight path.

c. Becomes further displaced from its original flight path.

d. Re-establishes its original flight path without any input from the pilot.

65. Loading an aircraft so that the C of G exceeds the aft limits could result in:

a. Excessive upward force on the tail, and the nose pitching down.

b. Loss of longitudinal stability and the nose pitching up at slow speeds.

c. Excessive load factor in turns.

d. High stick forces.

66. Which of the following four options describes the consequence of taking off with
the manufacturer's recommended take-off flap setting selected?

a. Easier avoidance of obstacles at the end of a runway.

b. An increase in the length of the take-off run compared to a non-flap take-off.

c. A greater angle of climb.

d. A decrease in the length of the take-off run compared to a non-flap take-off.

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Aircraft principle. ENG1017-N

67. With the flaps lowered, the stalling speed will:

a. Remain the same.

b. Increase.

c. Increase, but occur at a higher angle of attack.

d. Decrease.

68. When an aircraft is disturbed from its trimmed attitude by, for example,
turbulence, it is said to have neutral stability if it subsequently:

a. Immediately re-establishes its original attitude.

b. Oscillates about its original attitude before settling back to that original attitude.

c. Remains in the new attitude.

d. Continues to move in the disturbed direction until the displacement is resisted by

69. If the Centre of Gravity (C of G) of an aircraft is found to be within limits for take-
off:

a. The CofG will always be within limits for landing

b.. The CofG limits for landing must be checked, allowing for planned fuel
consumption.

c. The CofG will not change during the flight.

d. The flight crew will always be certain of being able to adjust the C of G during flight
in order to keep it within acceptable limits for landing.

70. With a forward Centre of Gravity, an aircraft will have:

a. Lighter forces for control movements.

b. Reduced longitudinal stability.

c. Decreased elevator effectiveness when flaring.

d. Shorter take off distances.

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Aircraft principle. ENG1017-N

71. Longitudinal stability is given by:

a. The horizontal tail plane.

b. The fin.

c. The wing dihedral.

d. The ailerons.

72. An aft Centre of Gravity will give:

a. Longer take-off distances.

b. Increased longitudinal stability.

c. Heavy forces for control movements.

d. Increased elevator effectiveness when flaring.

73. The tendency of an aircraft to develop forces, which restore it to its original flight
situation, when disturbed from a condition of steady flight, is known as:

a. Manoeuvrability.

b. Stability.

c. Controllability.

d. Instability.

74. Stability around the normal axis:

a. Depends on the longitudinal dihedral.

b. Is given by the lateral dihedral.

c. Is increased if the keel surface behind the CofG is increased.

d. Is greater if the wing has no sweepback.

75. The maximum gliding distance from 8000 feet, for an aircraft in clean
configuration, with a lift/drag ratio of 6:1, is approximately 10 nautical miles. If flaps
are deployed:

a. The maximum gliding distance will be unaffected.

b. The maximum gliding distance will increase.

c. Lift/Drag ratio will be unaffected but will be achieved at a lower airspeed.

d. The maximum gliding distance will be less.

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Aircraft principle. ENG1017-N

76. A pilot lowers the flaps while keeping the airspeed constant. In order to maintain
level flight, the angle of attack:

a. Must be kept constant but power must be increased.

b. Must be increased.

c. Must be reduced.

d. Must be kept constant and power required will be constant.

77. Movement of the aircraft about its normal (vertical) axis is known as:-

a. Yawing.

b. Rolling.

c. Pitching.

d. Side slipping.

78. An aircraft wing is constructed with positive dihedral in order to give:

a. Longitudinal stability about the lateral axis.

b. Lateral stability about the longitudinal axis.

c. Lateral stability about the normal axis.

d. Directional stability about the normal axis.

79. An aircraft is disturbed from its path by a gust of wind. Neutral stability is when,
without pilot intervention, it:

a. Continues to move away from the original path.

b. Returns to its original path without overshooting.

c. Returns to its original path after overshooting.

d. Maintains the new path.

80. When flaps are lowered the stalling angle of attack of the wing:

a. Increases and CLMAX increases.

b. Remains the same, but CLMAX increases.

c. Decreases, but CLMAX increases.

d. Decreases, but CLMAX remains the same.

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Aircraft principle. ENG1017-N

81. A high wing configuration with no dihedral, compared to a low wing configuration
with no dihedral, will provide:

a. Greater longitudinal stability.

b. Greater lateral stability.

c. The same degree of longitudinal stability as any other configuration because

d. Less lateral stability.

82. An aircraft is disturbed from its flight path by a gust of wind. If it tends to return to
its original flight path without pilot intervention, the aircraft is said to possess:

a. Instability.

b. Positive Dynamic Stability.

c. Negative Dynamic Stability.

d. Neutral Dynamic Stability.

83. Wing leading-edge devices such as slots, designed to allow flight at higher angles
of attack, do so by:

a. Decreasing lift and hence induced drag.

b. Providing an extra lifting surface and hence increase the lift available.

c. Changing the shape and hence the lift characteristics of the wing.

d. Re-energising the airflow over the top of the wing, delaying separation.

84. The surface that gives an aircraft directional stability is:

a. The horizontal tail plane.

b. The rudder.

c. The fin.

d. The rudder trim tab.

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Aircraft principle. ENG1017-N

85. If a landing is to be made without flaps the landing speed must be:

a. The same as for a landing with flaps but with a steeper approach.

b. Reduced.

c. The same as for a landing with flaps.

d. Increased.

86. The maximum speed at which the aircraft can be flown with flaps extended is
called:

a. VNE.

b. VYSE.

c. VFE.

d. VNO.

87. Yawing is movement around the axis.

a. Horizontal.

b. Longitudinal.

c. Lateral.

d. Normal.

88. The lateral axis of an aircraft is a line which:

a. Passes through the quarter-chord point of the wing root at right angles to the
longitudinal axis.

b. Passes through the wing tips.

c. Passes through the Centre of Pressure, at right angles to the direction of the
airflow.

d. Passes through the Centre of Gravity, parallel to a line through the wing tips.

89. Lowering the flaps during a landing approach:

a. Increases the angle of descent without increasing the airspeed.

b. Permits approaches at a higher indicated airspeed.

c. Decreases the angle of descent without increasing power.

d. Eliminates floating.

90. During a manoeuvre, the ailerons are deflected and returned to neutral when the
aircraft has attained a small angle of bank. If the aircraft then returns to a wings-level
attitude without further control movement, it is:

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Aircraft principle. ENG1017-N

a. Statically stable but dynamically neutral.

b. Neutrally stable.

c. Statically and dynamically stable.

d. Statically stable.

91. The purpose of an anti-balance tab is to:

a. Reduce the load required to move the controls at high speeds only.

b. Trim the aircraft.

c. Reduce the load required to move the controls at all speeds.

d. Ensure that the pilot's physical control load increases with increase of control
surface deflection.

92. The phenomenon of flutter is described as:

a. Oscillatory motion of part or parts of the aircraft relative to the remainder of the
structure.

b. Rapid oscillatory motion involving only rotation of the control surfaces, associated
with the shock waves produced around the control surfaces.

c. Rapid movement of the airframe caused by vibration from the engines.

d. Reversal of the ailerons caused by wing torsional flexibility.

93. An aileron could be balanced aerodynamically by:

a. Attaching a weight to the control surface forward of the hinge.

b. Making the up aileron move through a larger angle than the down aileron.

c. Having the control hinge set back behind the control surface leading edge.

d. Having springs in the control circuit to assist movement

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Aircraft principle. ENG1017-N

94. When the control column is pushed forward, a balance tab on the elevator:

a. Moves to the neutral position.

b. Will move down relative to the control surface.

c. Will only move if the trim wheel is operated.

d. Will move up relative to the control surface.

95. The purpose of a differential ailerons is to:

a. Reduce the opposite yawing moment when making a turn.

b. Increase the yawing moment which opposes a turn.

c. Induce a pitching moment to prevent the nose from dropping in the turn.

d. Improve the rate of roll.

96. The respective primary and secondary effects of the rudder control are:

a. Pitch and yaw.

b. Yaw and pitch.

c. Yaw and roll.

d. Roll and yaw.

97. On an aircraft with a simple trim tab incorporated into a control surface, when the
surface is moved, the tab remains in the same position relative to the:

a. Relative airflow.

b. Control surface.

c. Boundary layer airflow.

d. Aircraft horizontal plane.

98. Which flying control surface(s) give(s) control about the aircraft's normal axis?

a. The flaps.

b. The ailerons.

c. The elevator.

d. The rudder.

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Aircraft principle. ENG1017-N

99. The primary and secondary effects of applying the left rudder alone are:

a. Right yaw and right roll.

b. Left yaw and right roll.

c. Right yaw and left roll.

d. Left yaw and left roll.

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