CIVIL AIR PATROL BILLY MITCHELL EXAMINATION SCRIPT
2025/2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
✔✔lapse rate - ✔✔the average rate at which temperature decreases with an increase n
altitude (The average lapse rate is 3 1/2° F per 1000 feed increase in altitude.)
✔✔soaring - ✔✔the art of staying aloft by exploring the energy of the atmosphere
✔✔stability - ✔✔the atmosphere's resistance to vertical motion
✔✔thermal - ✔✔a column of air that moves upwards
✔✔tow plane - ✔✔usually a single-engined airplane that will pull a glider from the
ground to an altitude where it can be released
✔✔wave - ✔✔a waving action with strong up and down motions started as air moves
across mountain ranges (Sailplane pilots can use the motion of this wave to gain
altitude.)
✔✔How far away is the sun from Earth? - ✔✔93 million miles
✔✔Schweitzer TG-4A - ✔✔USAF Academy Sailplane
✔✔Altimeter - ✔✔instrument to provide the height of the balloon above sea level
✔✔balloon - ✔✔an aircraft that uses lighter-than-air gas for its lift, with no built-in means
of horizontal control
✔✔burner - ✔✔the heat source for filling the envelope with hot air
✔✔buoyancy - ✔✔to rise or float on the surface of water or within the atmosphere
✔✔crown - ✔✔the top of the hot air balloon's envelope
✔✔evelope - ✔✔the main body of the balloon, usually made of nylon, that is filled with
lighter-than-air gas
✔✔gondola - ✔✔a wicker basket, hanging below the envelope, used to transport
passengers and propane tanks
✔✔gore - ✔✔one of the several vertical panels that make up the evelope
✔✔Montofolifer - ✔✔the name of the two French brothers who created the first
successful, manned, hot air balloon in 1783
,✔✔parachute panel - ✔✔located in the top
of the balloon's envelope that allows it to be deflated (When a larger area of deflation is
needed, some balloons are equipped with a rip panel.)
✔✔propane - ✔✔a lightweight, low carbon fuel used in hot air balloon burners
✔✔thermistor - ✔✔an instrument which measures the temperature within the envelope
✔✔veriometer - ✔✔an instrument to determine the rate of climb or descent; sometimes
referred to as vertical velocity indicator
✔✔combustion - ✔✔the chemical process of burning
✔✔combustion chamber - ✔✔An enclosed container in which fuel and air are burned for
the production of energy
✔✔compression - ✔✔the act of making a given volume of gas smaller
✔✔cycle - ✔✔a recurring series of events. The airplane engine has four cycles: intake,
compression, power, and exhaust
✔✔fuel - ✔✔a chemical substance which is used as a source of energy; aircraft fuels
include gasoline, kerosene, and propane
✔✔lean mixture - ✔✔a mixture of gasoline and air in which there is less fuel ad more air
✔✔magneto - ✔✔an electrical generator that produces power when rotated
✔✔meter/metering - ✔✔in terms of fuel for an engine, this is the process of allowing a
precise amount of fuel to pass (An example would be a passageway that allows only so
many molecules of gasoline to pass in a given unit of time.)
✔✔powerplant - ✔✔a term which applies to the airplane engine and accessories
✔✔reciprocating - ✔✔a type of engine that processes air and fuel by a back and forth
movement of its internal parts
✔✔rich mixture - ✔✔a mixture of gasoline and air in which there is more gasoline and
less air than needed for normal combustion
✔✔stoichiometric - ✔✔a ratio of fuel to air in which, upon combustion, all of the fuel is
burned.
, ✔✔stroke - ✔✔in the example of an airplane engine, it is the movement of the piston to
its limits within the combustion chamber
✔✔The four stroke operating cycle of a reciprocating engine - ✔✔1. Intake 2.
Compression 3. Ignition 4. Power 5. Exhaust
✔✔Powerplant controls - ✔✔Throttle and mixture
✔✔Most airplanes are equipped with a ________ ______ electrical system - ✔✔12-28
volt
✔✔Oil has two primary functions in an engine, - ✔✔to lubricate moving parts, and to
carry away heat
✔✔Altimeter - ✔✔measures the pressure and displays this as height above sea level
✔✔Vertical Velocity Indicator - ✔✔displays a rate of change in altitude
✔✔The Airspeed Indicator - ✔✔Records the difference between still air (static) and air
that is being rammed into the system and is measured as airspeed
✔✔Artificial Horizon - ✔✔based on the principle of a toy gyroscope, it shows the attitude
of the aircraft
✔✔Heading Indicator - ✔✔An artificial compass that gives the pilot directional
information
✔✔Turn coordinator - ✔✔uses the gyro principle for banking information
✔✔Glass Cockpit - ✔✔an airplane cockpit that features electronic instrument displays.
Improves pilot efficiency and airplane safety
✔✔GPS - ✔✔Global Positioning System, developed by the Department of Defense;
composed of 24 satellites
✔✔ELT - ✔✔Emergency Locator Transmitter
✔✔ATC - ✔✔air traffic control
✔✔beacon - ✔✔a tower-mounted, large, rotating light located at an airport that gives
pilots a guide to the type of airport and the airport's location
✔✔controlled airport - ✔✔an airport with an operating control tower
2025/2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
✔✔lapse rate - ✔✔the average rate at which temperature decreases with an increase n
altitude (The average lapse rate is 3 1/2° F per 1000 feed increase in altitude.)
✔✔soaring - ✔✔the art of staying aloft by exploring the energy of the atmosphere
✔✔stability - ✔✔the atmosphere's resistance to vertical motion
✔✔thermal - ✔✔a column of air that moves upwards
✔✔tow plane - ✔✔usually a single-engined airplane that will pull a glider from the
ground to an altitude where it can be released
✔✔wave - ✔✔a waving action with strong up and down motions started as air moves
across mountain ranges (Sailplane pilots can use the motion of this wave to gain
altitude.)
✔✔How far away is the sun from Earth? - ✔✔93 million miles
✔✔Schweitzer TG-4A - ✔✔USAF Academy Sailplane
✔✔Altimeter - ✔✔instrument to provide the height of the balloon above sea level
✔✔balloon - ✔✔an aircraft that uses lighter-than-air gas for its lift, with no built-in means
of horizontal control
✔✔burner - ✔✔the heat source for filling the envelope with hot air
✔✔buoyancy - ✔✔to rise or float on the surface of water or within the atmosphere
✔✔crown - ✔✔the top of the hot air balloon's envelope
✔✔evelope - ✔✔the main body of the balloon, usually made of nylon, that is filled with
lighter-than-air gas
✔✔gondola - ✔✔a wicker basket, hanging below the envelope, used to transport
passengers and propane tanks
✔✔gore - ✔✔one of the several vertical panels that make up the evelope
✔✔Montofolifer - ✔✔the name of the two French brothers who created the first
successful, manned, hot air balloon in 1783
,✔✔parachute panel - ✔✔located in the top
of the balloon's envelope that allows it to be deflated (When a larger area of deflation is
needed, some balloons are equipped with a rip panel.)
✔✔propane - ✔✔a lightweight, low carbon fuel used in hot air balloon burners
✔✔thermistor - ✔✔an instrument which measures the temperature within the envelope
✔✔veriometer - ✔✔an instrument to determine the rate of climb or descent; sometimes
referred to as vertical velocity indicator
✔✔combustion - ✔✔the chemical process of burning
✔✔combustion chamber - ✔✔An enclosed container in which fuel and air are burned for
the production of energy
✔✔compression - ✔✔the act of making a given volume of gas smaller
✔✔cycle - ✔✔a recurring series of events. The airplane engine has four cycles: intake,
compression, power, and exhaust
✔✔fuel - ✔✔a chemical substance which is used as a source of energy; aircraft fuels
include gasoline, kerosene, and propane
✔✔lean mixture - ✔✔a mixture of gasoline and air in which there is less fuel ad more air
✔✔magneto - ✔✔an electrical generator that produces power when rotated
✔✔meter/metering - ✔✔in terms of fuel for an engine, this is the process of allowing a
precise amount of fuel to pass (An example would be a passageway that allows only so
many molecules of gasoline to pass in a given unit of time.)
✔✔powerplant - ✔✔a term which applies to the airplane engine and accessories
✔✔reciprocating - ✔✔a type of engine that processes air and fuel by a back and forth
movement of its internal parts
✔✔rich mixture - ✔✔a mixture of gasoline and air in which there is more gasoline and
less air than needed for normal combustion
✔✔stoichiometric - ✔✔a ratio of fuel to air in which, upon combustion, all of the fuel is
burned.
, ✔✔stroke - ✔✔in the example of an airplane engine, it is the movement of the piston to
its limits within the combustion chamber
✔✔The four stroke operating cycle of a reciprocating engine - ✔✔1. Intake 2.
Compression 3. Ignition 4. Power 5. Exhaust
✔✔Powerplant controls - ✔✔Throttle and mixture
✔✔Most airplanes are equipped with a ________ ______ electrical system - ✔✔12-28
volt
✔✔Oil has two primary functions in an engine, - ✔✔to lubricate moving parts, and to
carry away heat
✔✔Altimeter - ✔✔measures the pressure and displays this as height above sea level
✔✔Vertical Velocity Indicator - ✔✔displays a rate of change in altitude
✔✔The Airspeed Indicator - ✔✔Records the difference between still air (static) and air
that is being rammed into the system and is measured as airspeed
✔✔Artificial Horizon - ✔✔based on the principle of a toy gyroscope, it shows the attitude
of the aircraft
✔✔Heading Indicator - ✔✔An artificial compass that gives the pilot directional
information
✔✔Turn coordinator - ✔✔uses the gyro principle for banking information
✔✔Glass Cockpit - ✔✔an airplane cockpit that features electronic instrument displays.
Improves pilot efficiency and airplane safety
✔✔GPS - ✔✔Global Positioning System, developed by the Department of Defense;
composed of 24 satellites
✔✔ELT - ✔✔Emergency Locator Transmitter
✔✔ATC - ✔✔air traffic control
✔✔beacon - ✔✔a tower-mounted, large, rotating light located at an airport that gives
pilots a guide to the type of airport and the airport's location
✔✔controlled airport - ✔✔an airport with an operating control tower
