PPL Aircraft Systems and Powerplant Flashcards
6 cards from real PPL practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 PPL Aircraft Systems and Powerplant flashcards as text
What does manifold pressure (MAP) indicate in a piston aircraft?
Answer: The absolute pressure in the engine intake manifold, used to set power
Manifold pressure measures the absolute pressure of the air-fuel mixture in the intake manifold and is the primary power-setting indicator in many aircraft.
What happens to a normally-aspirated engine's power output as altitude increases?
Answer: Power decreases because lower air density reduces the mass of air entering the engine
As altitude increases, air density decreases, so the engine ingests less air mass per stroke, reducing combustion energy and power output.
What is the purpose of the mixture control in a piston aircraft?
Answer: To adjust the fuel-to-air ratio to maintain proper combustion as altitude and air density change
The mixture control adjusts the fuel-to-air ratio because air density decreases with altitude, requiring less fuel to maintain the correct stoichiometric ratio.
What color arc on the tachometer indicates the normal continuous operating range?
Answer: Green arc
The green arc on the tachometer indicates the normal continuous operating RPM range approved by the manufacturer.
What is the purpose of the alternator on a modern piston aircraft?
Answer: To continuously charge the battery and supply electrical power during flight
The alternator converts mechanical energy from the engine crankshaft into electrical energy to power avionics and continuously recharge the battery.
What does a high Cylinder Head Temperature (CHT) reading above the red line indicate?
Answer: Potential engine damage from overheating requiring immediate action
CHT gauges monitor engine heat; exceeding the red line limit indicates the engine is overheating and damage to cylinder heads or valves may occur.