Airplane Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. What does the common aviation term “black box” usually refer to?
The autopilot computer and weather radar
The engine-control unit and electrical battery
The transponder and emergency locator transmitter
The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder
2. What is the usual combined effect of extending flaps for landing?
They reduce drag so the airplane can approach faster
They reduce both lift and drag to steepen the descent
They increase thrust without changing wing performance
They increase lift and drag, permitting flight at a lower speed
3. Ice blocks an airplane’s pitot tube during flight. Which cockpit instrument is most directly affected?
Magnetic compass
Attitude indicator
Airspeed indicator
Engine tachometer
4. In a level turn, the airplane’s lift vector tilts with the bank. What must generally happen to maintain altitude?
Total lift must be increased so its vertical component still balances weight
The rudder must provide all of the missing vertical force
The airplane must slow until drag supports its weight
Total lift must be reduced to prevent a climb
5. Which primary flight-control surface is used to change an airplane’s pitch?
Rudder
Aileron
Elevator
Flap
6. Which aerodynamic force primarily opposes an airplane’s weight in flight?
Drag
Thrust
Lift
Inertia
7. Which transponder code is internationally used to indicate a general emergency?
7500
7700
7600
1200
8. If one wing stalls before the other, what is the airplane initially most likely to do?
Pitch sharply upward
Yaw away from the stalled wing without rolling
Accelerate while remaining level
Roll toward the stalled wing
9. An airplane’s engine fails while it still has substantial altitude. What should the pilot prioritize first?
Hold altitude until the airplane slows enough to descend vertically
Maintain control, establish an appropriate glide speed, and identify a landing area
Extend all drag-producing devices immediately before assessing the situation
Turn back toward the departure runway regardless of altitude or distance
10. What is the main purpose of cabin pressurization in a high-altitude passenger airplane?
To eliminate all turbulence inside the cabin
To prevent the engines from losing thrust
To increase the amount of lift produced by the wings
To maintain a cabin environment compatible with human breathing and comfort
11. The pilot moves the left aileron up and the right aileron down. Which response should this produce?
A pitch downward
A roll to the left
A yaw to the right with no roll
A roll to the right
12. Compared with a cool day at sea level, how will a hot day at a high-elevation airport generally affect takeoff?
The airplane will generally need a longer takeoff roll and climb less effectively
The airplane will climb faster because the air offers less drag
Temperature will have little effect if the runway is dry
The airplane will need a shorter takeoff roll because hot air produces more lift
13. What basic physical action produces most of a turbofan engine’s thrust?
Accelerating a mass of air backward
Pulling the airplane forward through suction at the intake
Heating the wings to increase lift
Spinning the landing wheels at high speed
14. A small airplane is landing behind a much larger airplane on the same runway. Which approach best reduces exposure to wake turbulence?
Fly below the larger airplane’s approach path and land before its touchdown point
Follow directly behind at the same height to remain on the runway centerline
Stay at or above its approach path and land beyond its touchdown point
Descend through its flight path as quickly as possible near the runway
15. Which statement about an aerodynamic stall is correct?
It can occur at any airspeed if the wing exceeds its critical angle of attack
It occurs only below the airplane’s published stall speed
It is caused primarily by flying at high altitude
It can occur only when the engine stops
16. A runway is marked “27.” Approximately which magnetic direction does it face?
027 degrees
270 degrees
180 degrees
090 degrees