Aircraft Systems Flashcards
6 cards from real Aviation practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Aircraft Systems flashcards as text
What is the purpose of the aircraft pitot-static system?
Answer: To provide ram air pressure and static pressure for flight instruments
The pitot-static system supplies ram air (pitot) pressure and atmospheric (static) pressure to the airspeed indicator, altimeter, and vertical speed indicator.
What indicates a blocked pitot tube during flight?
Answer: Airspeed indicator reads zero or fails to change with actual speed changes
A blocked pitot tube prevents ram air from entering the system, causing the airspeed indicator to read zero or remain frozen at the speed when the blockage occurred.
What is carburetor icing, and at what conditions is it most likely?
Answer: Ice forming in the venturi of the carburetor due to cooling of fuel-air mixture; most likely in high humidity, 20°F–70°F (-7°C to 21°C)
Carburetor icing forms in the venturi as fuel vaporization and pressure drop cause temperature to fall below freezing, even in mild ambient temperatures with high humidity.
What is the function of the aircraft vacuum system?
Answer: To drive the gyroscopic instruments (attitude indicator and heading indicator)
The vacuum system powers gyroscopic flight instruments — typically the attitude indicator and directional gyro (heading indicator).
In a normally aspirated aircraft engine, as altitude increases, what happens to engine power?
Answer: Power decreases because air density decreases
As altitude increases, air density decreases, reducing the mass of air entering the engine and therefore decreasing engine power output.
What does the VSI (Vertical Speed Indicator) display?
Answer: Rate of climb or descent in feet per minute
The VSI uses the rate of change of static pressure to indicate the aircraft's rate of climb or descent in feet per minute.