Principles of Flight - Typical Ultilearn Questions

1. The effect of gravity on an aircraft is called?

a) Drag
b) Thrust
c) Weight
d) Lift

2. To fly, an aircraft must generate lift to oppose its?

a) Inertia
b) Thrust
c) Weight
d) Drag

3. In the diagram all the small forces of gravity acting on the ruler balance about a point called?

a) The centre of gravity

b) Static centre
c) The dynamic centre
d) The centre of pressure

4. Which part of an aircraft produces drag which resists forward motion?

a) Every part of the aircraft over which air flows
b) Only those parts of the aircraft that are not producing lift
c) Only those which are producing lift
d) The fuselage but not the wings

5. Lift is obtained from almost all parts of the wing but not equally from every part. About how much is
obtained from the top surface of an aircraft wing such as a Chipmunk?
a) Up to 33%
b) Up to 80%
c) Up to 50%
d) Up to 25%

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6. As air passes over the top surface of a wing in normal flight, its speed will:
a) Reduce slightly
b) Increase
c) Reduce considerably
d) Remain Constant

7. Where is the greatest amount of lift normally generated on an aerofoil?

a) Trailing edge
b) Top surface
c) Bottom surface
d) Leading edge

8. Which of these wing sections is for general purpose?

a) X
b) Z
c) Y (high lift)
d) W

9. Where is the airflow fastest in this diagram of an aerofoil in an airflow?

a) V
b) O
c) E
d) L

10. To obtain the maximum drag from an aircraft's flaps, they should be set to?
a) 40 degrees
b) 30 degrees
c) 90 degrees
d) 10 degrees

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11. To slow an aircraft from straight and level flight which of the following statements is true?
a) Drag must be half thrust
b) Thrust must exceed drag
c) Drag must exceed thrust
d) Thrust must equal drag

12. The movement of an aircraft about its lateral axis is called?

a) Pitching
b) Rolling
c) Slewing
d) Yawing

13. Aircraft movements such as pitching, rolling and yawing are always described in relation to the?

a) Ground
b) Pilot
c) Horizon
d) Airflow

14. Which of these statements, about an aircraft in steady straight and level flight, is true?

a) Thrust is equal to half the drag

b) Thrust is equal to the drag
c) Thrust is equal to four times the drag
d) Thrust is equal to twice the drag

15. Which axis runs from nose to tail in an aircraft?

a) Longitudinal
b) Lateral
c) Bilateral
d) Normal

16. Only one of these statements is true for an aircraft in straight and level flight. Which one?
a) Lift is slightly more than weight
b) Lift is considerably greater than weight
c) Lift is exactly equals weight
d) Lift is slightly less than weight

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17. In steady straight and level flight at constant height and speed, the amount of lift produced by the
aircraft must be:
a) Equal to the aircraft's weight
b) Greater than the aircraft's drag
c) Greater than the aircraft's weight
d) Equal to the aircraft's thrust

18. The point on a wing at which all the lift is said to act is called?

a) Pressure point
b) Static point
c) Dynamic centre
d) Centre of Pressure

19. If an aircraft's speed through the air is increased from 250 knots to 500 knots, what happens to the
amount of lift produced?
a) It is reduced to a quarter
b) It is doubled
c) It is increased by four times
d) It remains the same

20. On this cross-section of a wing, which arrow points to a flap?

a) U
b) R
c) T
d) S

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21. In the diagram, what has happened to the air pressure at Point B?

a) It is greater than at point C

b) It is greater than at point A
c) It is lower than at point C
d) It is the same as at point C

22. Where is the air pressure lowest in this diagram of an aerofoil in an airflow?

a) O
b) L
c) V
d) E

23. Which of these is used by the pilot to make the aircraft yaw?
a) Fin
b) Rudder
c) Elevator
d) Aileron

24. What sort of movement is shown in the diagram?

a) Yawing
b) Swinging
c) Pitching
d) Rolling

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25. In order to control an aircraft in the rolling plane, a pilot of an aircraft fitted with conventional
controls uses?

a) The flaps
b) The ailerons
c) The rudder
d) The elevators

26. In order to control an aircraft in the pitching plane, the pilot of an aircraft fitted with conventional
controls uses?
a) The rudder
b) The ailerons
c) The fin
d) The elevators

27. At position 1, the aircraft is climbing vertically. To make the aircraft move to position 2 and then to
position 3, the pilot must move the control column:

a) Back
b) Forward
c) To the left
d) To the right

28. What sort of movement is shown in the diagram?

a) Yawing
b) Diving
c) Rolling
d) Pitching
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29. In this diagram what is the arrow pointing to?

a) An elevator trimming tab

b) A rudder trimming tab
c) A fuselage
d) A fin

30. A pilot selects full flap when coming into land. This will?
a) Reduce the angle of approach and improve forward vision
b) Increase the angle of approach and improve forward vision
c) Increase the angle of approach and increase the landing run
d) Decrease the angle of approach and reduce the landing run

31. Which of these flap settings would a pilot most probably select, for a shorter take-off?
a) 120 degrees
b) 15 degrees
c) 90 degrees
d) 60 degrees

32. When slats are open on a wing what effect will this have on the stalling angle and stalling speed?
a) Reduce/Reduce
b) Increase/Increase
c) Reduce/Increase
d) Increase/Reduce

33. Which of the following statements is true?

a) The airspeed at which an aircraft stalls does vary

b) The airspeed at which an aircraft stalls does not vary
c) A wing can stall at any angle of attack
d) The stall is the same for all aircraft

34. Which of these is always the same at the point of stall for a particular wing?
a) Its angle above the horizon
b) Its speed through the air
c) Its wing loading
d) Its angle of attack
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35. What sort of movement is shown in the diagram?

a) Hovering
b) Pitching
c) Yawing
d) Rolling

36. What is the purpose of the trimming tabs on flying controls?

a) To improve the manoeuvrability of the aircraft

b) To cancel out the unwanted forces on the pilots control
c) To increase the approach angle during landing
d) To reduce the take off run of an overloaded aircraft

37. A designer needs one shape of wing for the highest possible flying speed - but another for the
slowest possible landing speed. What does he provide to enable one wing to achieve both?

e) Balance tabs
f) Flaps
g) Elevators
h) Trimming tabs

38. To accelerate an aircraft from straight and level flight which of the following statements is true?

a) Thrust must equal total drag

b) Thrust must exceed total drag
c) Thrust must be less than drag
d) Drag must be greater than thrust

39. Which of these is used by the pilot to make the aircraft yaw?

a) Elevator
b) Aileron
c) Rudder
d) Fin

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40. On this cross-section of a wing, which arrow points to a slat?

a) U
b) S
c) T
d) R

41. Which of these describes the effect of slats at low speeds?

a) Smooth out turbulence in the airflow over the wing
b) Help the pilot to move the control surfaces into the airflow
c) Make it more difficult for the pilot to move the control surfaces into the airflow
d) Generate extra turbulence in the airflow over the wing

42. For air moving in a smooth streamline flow, if the air is made to speed up, what happens to the
pressure of the air where it is flowing faster?
a) It remains constant
b) It increases
c) It decreases
d) It fluctuates wildly

43. The 3 axes about which an aircraft moves are?

a) Longitudinal, lateral and diagonal

b) Longitudinal, lateral and normal
c) Lateral, normal and diagonal
d) Lateral, bilateral and normal

44. When slats are open on a wing, what effect will this have on the drag?
a) No effect
b) Increase it
c) Reduce it to zero
d) Decrease it

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45. Which of the following is a simple flap?

a) W
b) Z
c) Y
d) X

46. Which of the following is a split flap?

a) X
b) Z
c) W
d) Y

47. Which axis runs from nose to tail in an aircraft?

a) Longitudinal
b) Lateral
c) Bilateral
d) Normal

48. What is the force called that drives an aircraft forwards?

a) Thrust
b) Weight
c) Lift
d) Drag

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49. In steady straight and level flight at constant height and speed, the amount of lift produced by the
aircraft must be:

a) Equal to the aircraft's weight

b) Greater than the aircraft's drag

c) Greater than the aircraft's weight

d) Equal to the aircraft's thrust

50. The movement of an aircraft about its longitudinal axis is called?

a) Damping

b) Yawing

c) Pitching

d) Rolling

51. If the balance of an aircraft shifts in flight (eg due to the consumption of fuel) the pilot may have to
apply constant pressure on the controls. What device would enable the pilot to remove such control
loads?

a) Trimming tab
b) Fixed tabs
c) Balance tabs
d) Spring tabs

52. The angle of attack at which a wing stalls is known as?

a) Crucial angle
b) Critical angle
c) Stopped Angle
d) Stilled Angle

53. In which direction does lift operate relative to airflow?

a) Parallel to it
b) Straight up
c) 90 degrees to it
d) Straight down

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54. Which of these gives an aircraft high directional stability?
a) Rearward centre of gravity
b) Small fin area
c) Large fin area
d) Low centre of gravity

55. Which of these gives an aircraft stability in the yawing plane?

a) Dihedral
b) Anhedral
c) High centre of gravity
d) Sufficient fin area

56. Which of the following will increase the stalling speed of an aircraft?
a) Lowering the flaps
b) Reducing the weight
c) Increasing the power setting
d) Putting it into a turn

57. A well designed aircraft that is disturbed from level flight (say, by bumpy air) will tend to go back to
level flight of its own accord, without the pilot having to make adjustments. This property is called?
a) Stability
b) Instability
c) Damping
d) Inertia

58. Which of the following will give an aircraft stability in the rolling plane?
a) A small fin area

b) Dihedral

c) A large fin area

d) Anhedral

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59. What part of an aircraft provides stability in the pitching plane?

e) The tail plane

f) The fin
g) The undercarriage
h) The Nose

60. A well designed aircraft that is disturbed from level flight (say, by bumpy air) will tend to go back to
level flight of its own accord, without the pilot having to make adjustments. This property is called?

a) Stability
b) Instability
c) Damping
d) Inertia

61. At the stall of a particular wing which one of these factors is NOT variable?

a) The angle of attack at which it stalls

b) The air speed at which it stalls

c) The amount of lift being produced by the wing at the stall

d) The amount of weight supported by the wing

62. Which of these statements, about the airflow over the wing of an aircraft just beyond the point of
stall is true?
a) It stops completely
b) It becomes turbulent
c) It becomes very smooth
d) It speeds up tremendously

63. When the angle of attack of a general purpose wing increases beyond about 15 degrees
the airflow becomes turbulent and lift decreases rapidly. This sudden loss of lift is known as?

a) Boundary layer separation

b) The spin
c) The Stall
d) The Vortex

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 64. For a particular aircraft, which of these will reduce the stalling speed?

a) Putting the aircraft into a turn

b) A reduction in weight
c) A reduction in power
d) Raising the flaps

65. The forces on a glider during balanced flight are?

a) Lift, thrust and drag

b) Lift, weights and thrust
c) Thrust, weight and drag
d) Lift, weight and drag

66. Glider A is travelling downwind and glider B is travelling into wind. The indicated airspeed, angle of
attack and gliding angle relative to the airflow are the same for both gliders. Therefore:

a) Glider B will travel further over ground than Glider A

b) Glider A will travel further over ground than Glider B

c) Both Gliders should travel the same distance

d) The Glider travelling the furthest cannot be determined

67. How does a glider pilot know when the glider is flying at the optimum angle of attack?

a) By visibly checking the horizon along the glider's lateral axis

b) By visibly checking the horizon along the glider's longitudinal axis
c) By checking the pilot's notes
d) By reference to the indicated airspeed

68. The flatter the gliding angle of a glider, the further the glider will travel over the ground.
This angle is least when the ratio of lift to drag (the 'lift/drag' ratio) is:

a) At its highest
b) At its lowest
c) Equal to zero
d) Equal to one

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69. When a glider pilot operates the airbrakes what is the effect?

a) Lift is increased and drag is reduced

b) Lift is increased and drag is increased

c) Lift is reduced and drag is increased

d) Lift is reduced and drag is reduced

70. When would a glider pilot use airbrakes?

a) When being winch-launched

b) When approaching to land
c) When wanting to turn
d) When wanting to climb

71. The Viking Glider has a gliding angle of about 1 in 35. How far will it travel over the ground in still air
conditions from a height of 2 kilometres before touching down?

a) Approx 35 km
b) Approx 17.5 km
c) Approx 70 km
d) Approx 140 km

72. A glider with a flying speed of 35 kts flies into a head wind of 35 kts. To an observer on the ground the
glider will appear to?

a) Cover the ground at 70 kts

b) Lose height slowly over one spot
c) Cover the ground at 35 kts
d) Climb steadily

73. The action of airbrakes on the wings of a glider is to?

a) Reduce lift and reduce drag

b) Reduce lift and increase drag

c) Increase lift and reduce drag

d) Increase lift and increase drag

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74. A helicopter rotor disc is?
a) Only used when hovering
b) Controlled by the yaw pedals
c) Used to programme the path of the helicopter
d) The area swept by the rotor blade

75. A helicopter generates lift by:

a) Using the torque reaction
b) Use of the engine exhaust
c) Spinning an aerofoil shaped tail rotor
d) Spinning aerofoil shaped blades

76. The lift of a helicopter blade can be increased by?

a) Increasing the pitch angle

b) Decreasing the pitch angle

c) Pointing the nose into the wind

d) Slowing the rotor head down

77. Where is the hand throttle of a helicopter located?

a) On the cockpit wall

b) At the end of the joy stick
c) On the end of the collective lever
d) On the cyclic control

78. What shape is the cross section of a helicopter blade?

a) Round
b) Triangular
c) Square
d) Aerofoil

79. The pitch angle of all the main rotor blades of a helicopter can be altered by the same amount at the
same time. This is called?
a) Pitching

b) Torque reaction

c) Cyclic pitch

d) Collective pitch

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80. When a helicopter rotor is driven in a circular motion there is an opposing force. What is this force
called?

a) Drag
b) Lift reaction
c) Lift
d) Torque reaction

81. What is the main function of a helicopter's cyclic control?

a) Acts as a rudder

b) Controls the helicopter's vertical movement

c) Controls the engine speed

d) Controls horizontal flight in any direction

82. The pitch angle of a helicopter rotor blades can be altered individually, as each one traverses the
plane of rotation. This is called?

a) Pitching

b) Cyclic pitch

c) Torque reaction

d) Collective pitch

83. What is the purpose of a helicopter's tail rotor?

a) Control the aircraft in the rolling plane

b) Reduce drag

c) Counter torque reaction

d) Provide thrust

84. A helicopter pilot uses the yaw pedals to control?

a) Vertical flight
b) The pitch angle of the main rotor blades
c) The tail rotor
d) Forward speed

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