Aircraft Stability
Name the 3 types of static stability?
Positive, Neutral and Negative
Name the 2 types of clouds and what is the difference?
Stratus: Formed in stable air, flat
Cumulus: Formed by unstable air, puffy
What are the 2 sources of the PSS?
Static port and Pitot tube
What are the 4 layers of the atmopshere?
Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere
Explain what humidity is and where is it present?
It is the moisture or water vapor, which is present in an air mass
Name the 3 types of axes on an aircraft?
Longitudinal (Roll), Lateral (Pitch) and Vertical (Yaw)
If a cloud is in the middle range in the sky what prefix would apply to this cloud?
Alto prefix
Name 3 PSS intsruments?
What elements make up the atmosphere? What are their %?
Nitrogen: 78%
Oxygen: 21%
Other: 1%
What are 5 types of air masses?
Continental Air Mass, Maritime Air Mass, Arctic Air Mass, Polar Air Mass, Tropical Air Mass
If the center of gravity is too far forward on an aircraft, its nose tendency is directed in what angle/ position?
Center of Gravity too far forward = A nose down tendency
Explain flight characteristics/ conditions for stable and unstable air?
Stable Air: Poor low-level visibility (fog), Stratus clouds, Steady precipitation, Steady winds that vary with height, Smooth flying
Unstable Air: Good visibility, Cumulus clouds, Showery precipitation, Gusty winds, Moderate to severe turbulence
Describe how the static port works?
It is a hole on the side of a plane. It works if there is no blockage. Purpose is to measure static air pressure
What is the highest layer in the Atmopshere and why?
The highest layer in the Atmosphere is the thermosphere due to the extreme temperatures in this atmospheric layer
What is dew point?
Dew point is the temperature at which unsaturated air must be cooled to become saturated under constant pressure
What do horizontal stabilizers do if the nose of the aircraft is pushed up?
The horizontal stabilizer at the tail end is pushed down, meeting the air at a higher angle of attack creating more lift
Name the 5 lifting agents that cause rising air?
Convection, Orographic Lift, Frontal Lift, Mechanical Turbulence, Convergence
What 2 instruments utilise the static port?
Altimeter and VSI as they use static pressure
What 3 factors affect the properties if the atmopshere?
Temperature, density and pressure
What is atmospheric pressure measured in?
Hectopascals, inches in mercury and millibars
Explain the keel effect?
Keel effect is when a high-wing aircraft’s fuselages act as a counterweight during disturbances. The fuselage acts as a pendulum, swinging the aircraft and stabilizing it.
What is the difference between convergence and divergence?
What does the pitot heater switch do?
Removes build up of ice
Name 5 assumptions for the Standard Atmosphere in North America?
ICAO standards for North America assume the following conditions, The air is a perfectly dry gas, A mean sea level pressure of 29.92 inches of mercury, A mean sea level temperature of 15 degrees celsius, Temperature decreases with altitude at a rate of 1.98 degrees celsius per 1000 feet.
Explain the difference between seasonal and diurnal change?
Seasonal: The earth's rotation axis is slanted in relation to the plane of orbit around the sun. As a result, the amount of solar energy that touches the earth's surface fluctuates from season to season
Diurnal: During the day, solar radiation exceeds terrestrial radiation, and the earth's surface warms. At night, solar radiation quits, and terrestrial radiation causes the earth's surface to chill.