Aircraft Systems and Performance Flashcards
7 cards from real SPC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Aircraft Systems and Performance flashcards as text
What happens to an aircraft's climb performance when the outside air temperature is higher than standard?
Answer: Climb performance decreases because air density is lower
Higher temperatures reduce air density, which lowers engine power output and propeller efficiency, resulting in a reduced rate and angle of climb.
What is the purpose of the aircraft's ELT (Emergency Locator Transmitter)?
Answer: To automatically transmit a distress signal on 406 MHz after a crash to aid search and rescue
An ELT activates upon impact and transmits a coded signal to satellites on 406 MHz, enabling search and rescue teams to locate a downed aircraft.
What does 'Vx' represent in aircraft performance?
Answer: Best angle of climb speed, which gives the greatest altitude gain over the shortest horizontal distance
Vx is the speed that produces the steepest climb angle, gaining the most altitude in the shortest ground distance — useful for obstacle clearance.
Which aircraft system uses a Pitot tube and static port together?
Answer: Airspeed indicator
The airspeed indicator compares impact pressure from the Pitot tube with static pressure from the static port to measure the aircraft's speed through the air.
What is the main cause of 'left-turning tendencies' in a single-engine propeller aircraft at high power and low airspeed?
Answer: Torque, P-factor, spiraling slipstream, and gyroscopic precession all acting together
Four forces — torque, P-factor (asymmetric propeller thrust), spiraling slipstream, and gyroscopic precession — all tend to yaw the aircraft left during high-power, low-speed flight.
What does a blocked static port cause on the airspeed indicator?
Answer: The airspeed indicator freezes at the reading present when the port became blocked
A blocked static port traps the reference pressure at the altitude of blockage, causing the airspeed to freeze and not reflect actual changes in speed.
What is the effect of frost on an aircraft's wing surfaces before takeoff?
Answer: Frost disrupts the smooth airflow over the wing, significantly increasing stall speed
Even a thin layer of frost roughens the wing surface enough to disrupt laminar airflow, increasing stall speed by up to 5–10% and reducing lift.