FAA Glider Pilot Certificate 2026/2027 | Private Pilot
Glider Exam Study Guide, Practice Questions &
Answers, FAA Glider Exam Prep
Question 1: Which of the following best describes the effect of an
aft center of gravity on a glider's spin characteristics?
A. It decreases the likelihood of entering a spin.
B. It may cause the glider to develop a flat spin.
C. It has no effect on spin characteristics.
D. It increases the glider's resistance to stalling.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. It may cause the glider to develop a flat
spin.
Rationale: An excessively aft center of gravity reduces longitudinal stability
and can cause the glider to enter a flat spin, which is a dangerous and
potentially unrecoverable condition. This is a fundamental principle of
weight and balance as it relates to spin dynamics in gliders.
Question 2: During an aerotow, what is the most common error a
glider pilot makes while maintaining the high tow position?
A. Allowing the glider to get too far left.
B. Allowing the glider to get too far right.
C. Allowing the glider to get too high.
D. Allowing the glider to get too low.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Allowing the glider to get too high.
Rationale: The easiest error in high tow is climbing above the normal tow
position. Because the towline is a fixed length, climbing causes the glider to
move forward as well as up, gaining speed and potentially reaching a point
almost directly above the towplane, which is dangerous.
Question 3: A sailplane has a best glide ratio of 23:1.
Approximately how many feet will the glider lose in 8 nautical
miles of still air?
A. 1,840 feet
B. 2,100 feet
C. 2,750 feet
D. 3,220 feet
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 2,100 feet
,Rationale: Eight nautical miles equals 48,640 feet. At a 23:1 glide ratio, the
glider loses 1 foot of altitude for every 23 feet of forward travel. 48,640
divided by 23 equals approximately 2,115 feet, which is closest to 2,100
feet.
Question 4: What is the proper recovery technique if a glider
unintentionally enters a steep diving spiral?
A. Apply full up-elevator pressure immediately.
B. Apply more up-elevator pressure then use right aileron.
C. Relax the back pressure, shallow the bank, then apply up-elevator.
D. Apply full opposite rudder and hold it until rotation stops.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Relax the back pressure, shallow the bank,
then apply up-elevator.
Rationale: To recover from a spiral dive without overstressing the glider, the
pilot must first relax back pressure to reduce the load factor, then reduce
the bank angle, and finally apply smooth up-elevator pressure to raise the
nose to the desired attitude.
Question 5: The sailplane has become airborne during an aerotow
and the towplane loses power before leaving the ground. The glider
pilot should release immediately and:
A. Maneuver to the right side of the runway.
B. Extend spoilers and land straight ahead.
C. Maneuver to the left of the towplane.
D. Turn back to the departure end of the runway.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Extend spoilers and land straight ahead.
Rationale: In a low-altitude emergency during takeoff, there is insufficient
altitude to maneuver or turn back. The glider pilot should release
immediately, extend spoilers to prevent floating, and land straight ahead on
the remaining runway or overrun area.
Question 6: What antidotal phrase can help reverse the hazardous
attitude of impulsivity?
A. "Do it quickly to get it over with."
B. "It could happen to me."
C. "Not so fast, think first."
D. "I'm better than they are."
,CORRECT ANSWER: C. "Not so fast, think first."
Rationale: The antidote for impulsivity is to slow down and think before
acting. "Not so fast, think first" directly counters the tendency to rush into
actions without proper consideration.
Question 7: What does the red radial line on a glider's airspeed
indicator represent?
A. Maneuvering speed.
B. Turbulent or rough-air speed.
C. Never-exceed speed.
D. Best glide speed.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Never-exceed speed.
Rationale: The red radial line on an airspeed indicator marks VNE, the
never-exceed speed. Exceeding this speed may result in structural damage
or failure of the glider.
Question 8: A lack of orientation with regard to the position,
attitude, or movement of the aircraft in space is defined as:
A. Spatial disorientation.
B. Hyperventilation.
C. Hypoxia.
D. Vertigo.
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Spatial disorientation.
Rationale: Spatial disorientation is the inability of a pilot to correctly
interpret aircraft attitude, altitude, or motion relative to the earth. It occurs
when visual cues are insufficient or misleading.
Question 9: What would be a proper action or procedure if a
sailplane pilot is getting too low on a cross-country flight?
A. Continue on course until 1,000 feet AGL then plan the approach.
B. Fly directly into the wind and make a straight-in approach.
C. Have a suitable landing area selected at 2,000 feet AGL and a specific
field chosen at 1,500 feet AGL.
D. Descend immediately to treetop level to find lift.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Have a suitable landing area selected at
2,000 feet AGL and a specific field chosen at 1,500 feet AGL.
, Rationale: Good off-field landing planning requires progressive decision-
making. At 2,000 feet AGL, the pilot should identify suitable landing areas.
By 1,500 feet AGL, a specific field should be chosen if lift is not found.
Question 10: A sailplane pilot can differentiate between a spin and
a spiral dive because in a spiral dive:
A. The speed remains constant.
B. The G loads increase.
C. There is a small loss of altitude in each rotation.
D. The airspeed is low and decreasing.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The G loads increase.
Rationale: In a spiral dive, the aircraft is accelerating and G-loading
increases rapidly. In a true spin, the aircraft is stalled, airspeed is low and
relatively constant, and G-loads remain low.
Question 11: Which of the following statements regarding angle of
attack is correct?
A. If a constant airspeed can be maintained, the angle of attack will
increase as pitch is increased.
B. It is possible for the wing to pass through the air at a high angle of attack
even when a constant altitude is maintained.
C. A glider in a descent will normally have a negative angle of attack.
D. Stalls occur only at low airspeeds.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. It is possible for the wing to pass through
the air at a high angle of attack even when a constant altitude is
maintained.
Rationale: Angle of attack is the angle between the wing chord line and the
relative wind. A glider can maintain altitude at low airspeeds with a high
angle of attack, demonstrating that high angle of attack does not require a
climb or descent.
Question 12: What is the minimum age requirement for a private
pilot certificate with a glider rating?
A. 14 years
B. 16 years
C. 17 years
D. 18 years
Glider Exam Study Guide, Practice Questions &
Answers, FAA Glider Exam Prep
Question 1: Which of the following best describes the effect of an
aft center of gravity on a glider's spin characteristics?
A. It decreases the likelihood of entering a spin.
B. It may cause the glider to develop a flat spin.
C. It has no effect on spin characteristics.
D. It increases the glider's resistance to stalling.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. It may cause the glider to develop a flat
spin.
Rationale: An excessively aft center of gravity reduces longitudinal stability
and can cause the glider to enter a flat spin, which is a dangerous and
potentially unrecoverable condition. This is a fundamental principle of
weight and balance as it relates to spin dynamics in gliders.
Question 2: During an aerotow, what is the most common error a
glider pilot makes while maintaining the high tow position?
A. Allowing the glider to get too far left.
B. Allowing the glider to get too far right.
C. Allowing the glider to get too high.
D. Allowing the glider to get too low.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Allowing the glider to get too high.
Rationale: The easiest error in high tow is climbing above the normal tow
position. Because the towline is a fixed length, climbing causes the glider to
move forward as well as up, gaining speed and potentially reaching a point
almost directly above the towplane, which is dangerous.
Question 3: A sailplane has a best glide ratio of 23:1.
Approximately how many feet will the glider lose in 8 nautical
miles of still air?
A. 1,840 feet
B. 2,100 feet
C. 2,750 feet
D. 3,220 feet
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 2,100 feet
,Rationale: Eight nautical miles equals 48,640 feet. At a 23:1 glide ratio, the
glider loses 1 foot of altitude for every 23 feet of forward travel. 48,640
divided by 23 equals approximately 2,115 feet, which is closest to 2,100
feet.
Question 4: What is the proper recovery technique if a glider
unintentionally enters a steep diving spiral?
A. Apply full up-elevator pressure immediately.
B. Apply more up-elevator pressure then use right aileron.
C. Relax the back pressure, shallow the bank, then apply up-elevator.
D. Apply full opposite rudder and hold it until rotation stops.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Relax the back pressure, shallow the bank,
then apply up-elevator.
Rationale: To recover from a spiral dive without overstressing the glider, the
pilot must first relax back pressure to reduce the load factor, then reduce
the bank angle, and finally apply smooth up-elevator pressure to raise the
nose to the desired attitude.
Question 5: The sailplane has become airborne during an aerotow
and the towplane loses power before leaving the ground. The glider
pilot should release immediately and:
A. Maneuver to the right side of the runway.
B. Extend spoilers and land straight ahead.
C. Maneuver to the left of the towplane.
D. Turn back to the departure end of the runway.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Extend spoilers and land straight ahead.
Rationale: In a low-altitude emergency during takeoff, there is insufficient
altitude to maneuver or turn back. The glider pilot should release
immediately, extend spoilers to prevent floating, and land straight ahead on
the remaining runway or overrun area.
Question 6: What antidotal phrase can help reverse the hazardous
attitude of impulsivity?
A. "Do it quickly to get it over with."
B. "It could happen to me."
C. "Not so fast, think first."
D. "I'm better than they are."
,CORRECT ANSWER: C. "Not so fast, think first."
Rationale: The antidote for impulsivity is to slow down and think before
acting. "Not so fast, think first" directly counters the tendency to rush into
actions without proper consideration.
Question 7: What does the red radial line on a glider's airspeed
indicator represent?
A. Maneuvering speed.
B. Turbulent or rough-air speed.
C. Never-exceed speed.
D. Best glide speed.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Never-exceed speed.
Rationale: The red radial line on an airspeed indicator marks VNE, the
never-exceed speed. Exceeding this speed may result in structural damage
or failure of the glider.
Question 8: A lack of orientation with regard to the position,
attitude, or movement of the aircraft in space is defined as:
A. Spatial disorientation.
B. Hyperventilation.
C. Hypoxia.
D. Vertigo.
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Spatial disorientation.
Rationale: Spatial disorientation is the inability of a pilot to correctly
interpret aircraft attitude, altitude, or motion relative to the earth. It occurs
when visual cues are insufficient or misleading.
Question 9: What would be a proper action or procedure if a
sailplane pilot is getting too low on a cross-country flight?
A. Continue on course until 1,000 feet AGL then plan the approach.
B. Fly directly into the wind and make a straight-in approach.
C. Have a suitable landing area selected at 2,000 feet AGL and a specific
field chosen at 1,500 feet AGL.
D. Descend immediately to treetop level to find lift.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Have a suitable landing area selected at
2,000 feet AGL and a specific field chosen at 1,500 feet AGL.
, Rationale: Good off-field landing planning requires progressive decision-
making. At 2,000 feet AGL, the pilot should identify suitable landing areas.
By 1,500 feet AGL, a specific field should be chosen if lift is not found.
Question 10: A sailplane pilot can differentiate between a spin and
a spiral dive because in a spiral dive:
A. The speed remains constant.
B. The G loads increase.
C. There is a small loss of altitude in each rotation.
D. The airspeed is low and decreasing.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The G loads increase.
Rationale: In a spiral dive, the aircraft is accelerating and G-loading
increases rapidly. In a true spin, the aircraft is stalled, airspeed is low and
relatively constant, and G-loads remain low.
Question 11: Which of the following statements regarding angle of
attack is correct?
A. If a constant airspeed can be maintained, the angle of attack will
increase as pitch is increased.
B. It is possible for the wing to pass through the air at a high angle of attack
even when a constant altitude is maintained.
C. A glider in a descent will normally have a negative angle of attack.
D. Stalls occur only at low airspeeds.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. It is possible for the wing to pass through
the air at a high angle of attack even when a constant altitude is
maintained.
Rationale: Angle of attack is the angle between the wing chord line and the
relative wind. A glider can maintain altitude at low airspeeds with a high
angle of attack, demonstrating that high angle of attack does not require a
climb or descent.
Question 12: What is the minimum age requirement for a private
pilot certificate with a glider rating?
A. 14 years
B. 16 years
C. 17 years
D. 18 years
