King Schools – Aerodynamics UPDATED
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
What are the four forces acting on an aircraft in flight? What do they do? - CORRECT
ANSWER - thrust, which pulls a plane forward; drag, which pulls it back; weight, which
pulls it downward; and lift, which pushes it up
What is a Chord Line? - CORRECT ANSWER - The Chord Line is an imaginary line
through a wing, from the trailing edge to the leading edge, that bisects it.
What is Relative Wind? - CORRECT ANSWER - The Relative Wind is the direction of
the wind relative to the direction of the wing. It flows opposite to the aircraft/wing.
What is Angle of Attack? Why is angle of attack important? - CORRECT ANSWER - The
Angle of Attack (AOA) is the angle between the chord line and the relative wind. The AOA
determines the amount of lift that the wing produces.
What is laminar flow? - CORRECT ANSWER - Laminar Flow occurs when air is flowing
smoothly over the wing. The wing only produces lift when airflow conforms to its surface.
When does an airplane stall? - CORRECT ANSWER - A wing stalls after it surpasses its
critical angle of attack. Each airplane stalls at a specific AOA. The angle of attack at which a
wing stalls remains the same regardless of speed, air density, or change from gross weight.
How do you spin? - CORRECT ANSWER - In order to spin, the airplane must first be
stalled (both wings must be stalled). After a stall, a spin occurs when one wing is more stalled
than the other wing.
How does frost impact flight? - CORRECT ANSWER - Frost disrupts smooth airflow
over a wing and decreases its lifting capability, adversely affecting performance. Frost that has
, not been removed from the wings of a plane before flight may prevent the airplane from
becoming airborne at normal takeoff speed.
What do flaps do? - CORRECT ANSWER - Flaps help increase lift and drag on an
aircraft. These increases will help you increase descent angle without increasing airspeed.
What are the three axes of flight? - CORRECT ANSWER - The vertical axis (yaw axis)
extends vertically through the CG. Movement about this axis is called yaw and is controlled by
the rudder.
The longitudinal axis (roll axis) runs front to back from the nose to the tail. Movement about this
axis is called roll, which is controlled by the ailerons.
The lateral axis (pitch axis) runs laterally through the aircraft parallel to the wings. Movement
about this axis is called pitch, which is controlled by the elevators.
What determines stability? - CORRECT ANSWER - The position of the Center of
Gravity, the theoretical point at which all the mass in an aircraft is concentrated, in relation to the
Center of Lift, the one point where lift is considered to act, determines stability.
What factors impact an aircraft's controlability? - CORRECT ANSWER - The position of
the CG; power changes; changing AOA, which in function changes the relationship between CL
and CG.
How do the forces acting on an aircraft change to allow it to turn? - CORRECT
ANSWER - When an airplane is in straight-and-level flight, all lift is vertical lift keeping
the airplane up. When you bank the plane, some of that vertical lift is transferred to a horizontal
lift component, on the inside of the turn, that makes the plane turn.
What is adverse yaw? What situation does it put planes in? - CORRECT ANSWER -
When you turn the plane, there is an adverse yaw component that twists the nose of the plane in
the opposite direction. When you bank the wings, the outside wing is raised, which increases lift
and drag, while the lower wing lowers its AOA, which decreases drag. This drag component
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
What are the four forces acting on an aircraft in flight? What do they do? - CORRECT
ANSWER - thrust, which pulls a plane forward; drag, which pulls it back; weight, which
pulls it downward; and lift, which pushes it up
What is a Chord Line? - CORRECT ANSWER - The Chord Line is an imaginary line
through a wing, from the trailing edge to the leading edge, that bisects it.
What is Relative Wind? - CORRECT ANSWER - The Relative Wind is the direction of
the wind relative to the direction of the wing. It flows opposite to the aircraft/wing.
What is Angle of Attack? Why is angle of attack important? - CORRECT ANSWER - The
Angle of Attack (AOA) is the angle between the chord line and the relative wind. The AOA
determines the amount of lift that the wing produces.
What is laminar flow? - CORRECT ANSWER - Laminar Flow occurs when air is flowing
smoothly over the wing. The wing only produces lift when airflow conforms to its surface.
When does an airplane stall? - CORRECT ANSWER - A wing stalls after it surpasses its
critical angle of attack. Each airplane stalls at a specific AOA. The angle of attack at which a
wing stalls remains the same regardless of speed, air density, or change from gross weight.
How do you spin? - CORRECT ANSWER - In order to spin, the airplane must first be
stalled (both wings must be stalled). After a stall, a spin occurs when one wing is more stalled
than the other wing.
How does frost impact flight? - CORRECT ANSWER - Frost disrupts smooth airflow
over a wing and decreases its lifting capability, adversely affecting performance. Frost that has
, not been removed from the wings of a plane before flight may prevent the airplane from
becoming airborne at normal takeoff speed.
What do flaps do? - CORRECT ANSWER - Flaps help increase lift and drag on an
aircraft. These increases will help you increase descent angle without increasing airspeed.
What are the three axes of flight? - CORRECT ANSWER - The vertical axis (yaw axis)
extends vertically through the CG. Movement about this axis is called yaw and is controlled by
the rudder.
The longitudinal axis (roll axis) runs front to back from the nose to the tail. Movement about this
axis is called roll, which is controlled by the ailerons.
The lateral axis (pitch axis) runs laterally through the aircraft parallel to the wings. Movement
about this axis is called pitch, which is controlled by the elevators.
What determines stability? - CORRECT ANSWER - The position of the Center of
Gravity, the theoretical point at which all the mass in an aircraft is concentrated, in relation to the
Center of Lift, the one point where lift is considered to act, determines stability.
What factors impact an aircraft's controlability? - CORRECT ANSWER - The position of
the CG; power changes; changing AOA, which in function changes the relationship between CL
and CG.
How do the forces acting on an aircraft change to allow it to turn? - CORRECT
ANSWER - When an airplane is in straight-and-level flight, all lift is vertical lift keeping
the airplane up. When you bank the plane, some of that vertical lift is transferred to a horizontal
lift component, on the inside of the turn, that makes the plane turn.
What is adverse yaw? What situation does it put planes in? - CORRECT ANSWER -
When you turn the plane, there is an adverse yaw component that twists the nose of the plane in
the opposite direction. When you bank the wings, the outside wing is raised, which increases lift
and drag, while the lower wing lowers its AOA, which decreases drag. This drag component
