SIFT Aviation Knowledge 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What are the four forces acting on an aircraft in flight?
- Push, pull, gravity, speed
- Lift, weight, thrust, and drag (Correct answer)
- Roll, pitch, yaw, and spin
- Power, resistance, gravity, and wind
Correct answer: Lift, weight, thrust, and drag
The four fundamental forces in flight are lift (upward), weight/gravity (downward), thrust (forward), and drag (rearward). Balanced forces result in steady flight.
Question 2: What flight instrument indicates the aircraft's altitude above sea level?
- Airspeed indicator
- Altimeter (Correct answer)
- Attitude indicator
- Vertical speed indicator
Correct answer: Altimeter
The altimeter measures atmospheric pressure and converts it to altitude above sea level, providing critical information for terrain clearance and air traffic control.
Question 3: What is the purpose of the cyclic control in a helicopter?
- Controls engine power
- Controls the direction and speed of horizontal flight by tilting the rotor disk (Correct answer)
- Controls the tail rotor
- Controls altitude only
Correct answer: Controls the direction and speed of horizontal flight by tilting the rotor disk
The cyclic control tilts the main rotor disk in the desired direction, allowing the helicopter to move forward, backward, or sideways.
Question 4: What does VFR stand for in aviation?
- Very Fast Route
- Visual Flight Rules — flying by visual reference to the ground and landmarks (Correct answer)
- Variable Frequency Radio
- Vertical Flight Regulation
Correct answer: Visual Flight Rules — flying by visual reference to the ground and landmarks
Visual Flight Rules allow pilots to fly by looking outside the aircraft and maintaining visual contact with the ground, terrain, and other aircraft, under specified weather conditions.
Question 5: What is the purpose of the collective control in a helicopter?
- Controls direction of flight
- Controls the overall pitch of all main rotor blades simultaneously to change altitude (Correct answer)
- Controls the tail rotor
- Controls communication systems
Correct answer: Controls the overall pitch of all main rotor blades simultaneously to change altitude
The collective changes the pitch angle of all main rotor blades equally, increasing or decreasing total lift to control the helicopter's altitude.
Question 6: What weather phenomenon is most dangerous for rotary-wing aircraft?
- Light rain
- Icing conditions, which can change rotor blade aerodynamics and add weight (Correct answer)
- Clear skies
- Moderate winds
Correct answer: Icing conditions, which can change rotor blade aerodynamics and add weight
Ice accumulation on rotor blades changes their aerodynamic shape, reduces lift, adds weight, and can cause dangerous vibrations, making icing extremely hazardous for helicopters.
SIFT Aviation Knowledge 1
What are the four forces acting on an aircraft in flight?