Flight Theory & Principles Flashcards
7 cards from real CGI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Flight Theory & Principles flashcards as text
Longitudinal stability involves motion about which axis?
Answer: Lateral axis
Longitudinal stability is pitch stability, which is rotation about the lateral axis.
Loading an airplane with the CG at its forward limit generally results in:
Answer: Higher stall speed and greater longitudinal stability
A forward CG requires more tail-down force, increasing wing loading and stall speed while increasing stability.
What is a hazard of operating with the CG aft of the approved limit?
Answer: Reduced stability and possible inability to recover from a stall or spin
An aft CG reduces longitudinal stability and can make stall and spin recovery difficult or impossible.
Wing dihedral primarily contributes to which type of stability?
Answer: Lateral stability
Dihedral causes the lower wing in a sideslip to gain angle of attack and lift, rolling the airplane back toward level.
The vertical stabilizer provides stability about which axis?
Answer: Vertical axis
The vertical fin acts like a weathervane to provide directional (yaw) stability about the vertical axis.
Dutch roll tends to occur when:
Answer: Lateral stability is strong compared to directional stability
Dutch roll is a coupled yaw-roll oscillation that arises when dihedral effect dominates weak directional stability.
Spiral instability exists when:
Answer: Directional stability is strong compared to lateral (dihedral) stability
Strong directional stability with weak dihedral effect lets a bank slowly steepen into a descending spiral.
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