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 is the purpose of the ELT (Emergency Locator Transmitter)?
Answer: To automatically transmit a distress signal when activated by crash impact
The ELT activates automatically upon crash impact and transmits a distress signal on 406 MHz to the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system, helping rescue teams locate the aircraft.
What type of landing gear is most common on modern training aircraft?
Answer: Fixed tricycle gear with a nosewheel
Fixed tricycle landing gear (nosewheel plus two main gear) is standard on training aircraft because it provides ground stability and is mechanically simple.
What does the stall warning horn alert the pilot to?
Answer: The wing approaching the critical angle of attack near the stall
The stall warning horn activates when the wing angle of attack approaches the critical (stall) angle, warning the pilot of an impending aerodynamic stall.
What aerodynamic effect do flaps primarily provide?
Answer: They increase lift and drag, enabling slower approach speeds and steeper descent angles
Flaps increase wing camber and surface area, generating more lift and drag at lower airspeeds, allowing slower and steeper approaches to landing.
What does a suction gauge measure in a light aircraft?
Answer: The vacuum pressure used to drive gyroscopic flight instruments
The suction gauge measures vacuum pressure generated by the vacuum pump, which spins gyroscopic instruments including the attitude indicator and directional gyro.
What is the function of the pitot tube?
Answer: To capture dynamic ram air pressure used to calculate indicated airspeed
The pitot tube faces forward into the airstream to capture dynamic ram air pressure; this pressure is compared to static pressure to compute indicated airspeed.