PRIVATE PILOT STAGE 3 EXAM FINAL PAPER
2026 EXAM QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS 100
PERCENT CORRECT
◉ What is a surface analysis chart? Answer: Depicts weather
conditions as they were a few hours earlier, indicated by time
stamped. Charts are developed every 3 hours. Gives atmospheric
pressure locations, locations of high and low pressure systems, as
well as high and low frontal movements
◉ What is a weather depiction chart? Answer: Computer generated
chart based on metar reports giving a broad overview of the flying
conditions at that time. Updated every 3 hours and is only valid at
the time the chart is issued
◉ What is the difference between an AIRMET, a SIGMET, and a
CONVECTIVE SIGMET? Answer: SIGMETs concern severe and
extreme conditions important to ALL AIRCRAFT. This includes icing,
turbulence, dust storms, sand storms, volcanic ash
CONVECIVE SIGMETS are issued for thunderstorms if they are
sufficiently strong, wide spread, or embedded containing convective
activity
,AIRMETS concern less severe conditions that may be hazardous to
smaller aircraft
◉ What are the 3 types of airmets? Answer: Sierra: IFR conditions or
mountain obscurations
Tango: Turbulence and surface winds greater than 30 knots
Zulu: Icing conditions
◉ What is a center weather advisory? Answer: Issued by control
centers and concern both SIGMET and AIRMET conditions and
relate to specific air route traffic control center areas
◉ Define the term Ceiling Answer: The lowed broken or overcast
layer of clouds
◉ Which is worst, sigmet or airmet? Answer: SIGMET, extreme
conditions that relate to all aircraft
◉ CHAPTER 5 PERFORMANCE AND LIMITATIONS Answer:
CHAPTER 5 PERFORMANCE AND LIMITATIONS
◉ What 4 forces are always acting on an airplane? Answer: Lift
,weight
drag
thrust
◉ What is angle of attack? Answer: The angle between the chord line
and relative wind
◉ What is relative wind? Answer: The direction of airflow with
respect to am airfoil
Parallel and opposite the path of the airfoils movement
◉ What is Bernoullis principle? Answer: When a fluid's velocity
increases, the pressure decreases. Produces lift as more pressure
with slower moving air under the airfoil
◉ What is a stall? Answer: Exceed critical angle of attack. Abrupt
decrease in lift because there is no more airflow over the wings
◉ What factors affect stall speed? Answer: Weight and center of
gravity
◉ characteristics of forward and aft CG Answer: aft:
-less stable
, (center of gravity is closer to center of pressure causes longitudinal
instability, stall spin recovery is more difficult)
-higher cruise speed, because of reduced drag and smaller angle of
attack required to maintain altitude
-lower stall speed because less wing loading
forward:
-more stable because CG is further from center of pressure,
increases longitudinal stability
-slower cruise speed, bc increase of drag and higher AOA required to
maintain altitude
-higher stall speed because of increased wing loaded
◉ What is P-factor? Answer: prop turns clockwise when viewed
from the pilots seat . The descending blade of the propeller moves
faster that the ascending blade, making the aircraft yaw left
◉ What are the 2 types of drag? Answer: Parasite drag and induced
drag
Parasite drag: all the things that slow the aircraft down
-Form drag
-Skin drag
2026 EXAM QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS 100
PERCENT CORRECT
◉ What is a surface analysis chart? Answer: Depicts weather
conditions as they were a few hours earlier, indicated by time
stamped. Charts are developed every 3 hours. Gives atmospheric
pressure locations, locations of high and low pressure systems, as
well as high and low frontal movements
◉ What is a weather depiction chart? Answer: Computer generated
chart based on metar reports giving a broad overview of the flying
conditions at that time. Updated every 3 hours and is only valid at
the time the chart is issued
◉ What is the difference between an AIRMET, a SIGMET, and a
CONVECTIVE SIGMET? Answer: SIGMETs concern severe and
extreme conditions important to ALL AIRCRAFT. This includes icing,
turbulence, dust storms, sand storms, volcanic ash
CONVECIVE SIGMETS are issued for thunderstorms if they are
sufficiently strong, wide spread, or embedded containing convective
activity
,AIRMETS concern less severe conditions that may be hazardous to
smaller aircraft
◉ What are the 3 types of airmets? Answer: Sierra: IFR conditions or
mountain obscurations
Tango: Turbulence and surface winds greater than 30 knots
Zulu: Icing conditions
◉ What is a center weather advisory? Answer: Issued by control
centers and concern both SIGMET and AIRMET conditions and
relate to specific air route traffic control center areas
◉ Define the term Ceiling Answer: The lowed broken or overcast
layer of clouds
◉ Which is worst, sigmet or airmet? Answer: SIGMET, extreme
conditions that relate to all aircraft
◉ CHAPTER 5 PERFORMANCE AND LIMITATIONS Answer:
CHAPTER 5 PERFORMANCE AND LIMITATIONS
◉ What 4 forces are always acting on an airplane? Answer: Lift
,weight
drag
thrust
◉ What is angle of attack? Answer: The angle between the chord line
and relative wind
◉ What is relative wind? Answer: The direction of airflow with
respect to am airfoil
Parallel and opposite the path of the airfoils movement
◉ What is Bernoullis principle? Answer: When a fluid's velocity
increases, the pressure decreases. Produces lift as more pressure
with slower moving air under the airfoil
◉ What is a stall? Answer: Exceed critical angle of attack. Abrupt
decrease in lift because there is no more airflow over the wings
◉ What factors affect stall speed? Answer: Weight and center of
gravity
◉ characteristics of forward and aft CG Answer: aft:
-less stable
, (center of gravity is closer to center of pressure causes longitudinal
instability, stall spin recovery is more difficult)
-higher cruise speed, because of reduced drag and smaller angle of
attack required to maintain altitude
-lower stall speed because less wing loading
forward:
-more stable because CG is further from center of pressure,
increases longitudinal stability
-slower cruise speed, bc increase of drag and higher AOA required to
maintain altitude
-higher stall speed because of increased wing loaded
◉ What is P-factor? Answer: prop turns clockwise when viewed
from the pilots seat . The descending blade of the propeller moves
faster that the ascending blade, making the aircraft yaw left
◉ What are the 2 types of drag? Answer: Parasite drag and induced
drag
Parasite drag: all the things that slow the aircraft down
-Form drag
-Skin drag
