General Questions for Theory of Flight Final Exam

1. Drag is increased so as to __________

a) Slow the aircraft to a safe speed for landing

b) Decrease turbulence

c) Accelerate the aircraft to a safe speed for landing

d) Increase thrust

Answer: pervoy

Explanation: Drag is increased so as to slow the aircraft to a safe speed for landing. Drag offers negative
impact to the airspeed thus slowing down the aircraft, thereby offering a safe landing.

2. Which of the following controls the pitch of an aircraft?

a) Flaps

b) Elevator

c) Spoiler

View Answer

Answer: b

Explanation: The elevator is a flight control surface controlling the pitch of an aircraft. It is also
responsible for adjusting the angle of attack, and hence the lift of an aircraft. It is usually located at the
rear of an aircraft.
3. The combination of ailerons and elevators is called __________

a) Alevon

b) Spoiler

c) Elevon

d) Rudder

Answer: c

Explanation: The combination of ailerons and elevators is called elevon. Their respective control inputs
are also combined and it reduces the pilot’s workload. They are mostly used on tailless aircrafts.

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4. Which of the following is a part of the wing assembly of an aircraft?

a) Stabilizer

b) Edge flaps

c) Rudder

d) Elevator

View Answer

Answer: b

Explanation: The edge flaps are a part of the wing assembly of an aircraft. They are used to increase the
lift of an aircraft. Stabilizer, rudder and elevator are all situated at the rear of an aircraft and are a part
of the tail assembly.

5. The primary control of yaw is with the __________

a) Aileron

b) Elevator

c) Rudder

d) Elevon

View Answer
Answer: c

Explanation: The primary control of yaw is with the rudder. Yaw changes the direction in which the
aircraft’s nose is pointing. In addition to the rudder, ailerons also have an effect on the yaw.

6. An aircraft is turned right or left, using the aileron.

a) True

b) False

View Answer

Answer: a

Explanation: True, ailerons are used to steer the aircraft either left or right. They are mounted on the
edge of each wing and work in opposite directions. Raising the aileron, reduces the lift on the wing and
lowering the aileron, increases the lift.

7. The term canard is used to describe the __________ configuration of an aircraft.

a) Seating

b) Wing

c) Flap

d) Engine

View Answer

Answer: b

Explanation: Canard refers to a wing arrangement in aircrafts. In canard configuration, a small forewing
is placed ahead of the main wing. The Wright Flyer of 1903 had a canard arrangement.

8. What is the full form of UAVs?

a) Unmanned air vehicles

b) Uncharted aerial vehicles

c) Uncharted air vehicles

d) Unmanned aerial vehicles

View Answer

Answer: d

Explanation: UAVs refers to unmanned aerial vehicles. These are vehicles without a human pilot on
board. Examples of UAVs are spaceships and drones. They are controlled using a ground based
controller and a communication system.

9. Which of the following is not a secondary control?

a) Slats

b) Ailerons

c) Spoilers

d) Air brakes

View Answer

Answer: b

Explanation: The ailerons are part of the primary cockpit flight controls. The roll and pitch of the aircraft
can be adjusted using the ailerons. Slats, spoilers and air brakes are part of the secondary flight controls.

10. Spoilers are also referred to as lift dumpers.

a) True

b) False

Answer: a

Explanation: True. Spoilers are used to reduce lift on an aircraft by hampering the flow of wind over its
wings. They are used for reducing lift while landing an aircraft. They allow aircraft to lose altitude
without gaining significant airspeed.

11. For an aircraft whose left wing is pointing straight down, its transverse axis is __________ to the
ground.

a) Opposite
b) Parallel

c) Perpendicular

d) Adjacent

View Answer

Answer: c

Explanation: An aircraft whose left wing is pointing straight down, will have its transverse axis
perpendicular to the ground. Further, its vertical axis will be parallel w.r.t. the ground. These axes are
relative to the earth and will change with the change in position of the aircraft.

12. What is the rotation about longitudinal axis called?

a) Roll

b) Pitch

c) Yaw

d) Jaw

View Answer

Answer: a

Explanation: The axis passing through the aircraft from nose to tail is called as longitudinal axis. Rotation
about the longitudinal axis is called roll. Further, the angular displacement about it is called bank.

13. The rudder is a part of __________

a) Undercarriage

b) Empennage

c) APU

d) Engine

View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The rudder is a part of the empennage. More specifically, it is mounted on the vertical
stabilizer, at the rear end of the aircraft. If the pilot pushes the left pedal, rudder is deflected left and
similarly when the pilot pushes the right pedal, rudder is deflected right.

14. Which of the following is not a part of flight control systems?

a) Ailerons

b) Elevators

c) Radars

d) Flaps

View Answer

Answer: c

Explanation: Radars are not a part of flight control systems. However, ailerons, elevators and flaps are all
part of the flight control systems. Some other flight control systems are elevens and flaperons.

15. What is the full form of FBW?

a) Fare-by-wire

b) Fuel-by-wire

c) Force-by-wire

d) Fly-by-wire

View Answer

Answer: d

Explanation: FBW refers to fly-by-wire. Fly-by-wire is a control system that replaces manual flight
controls of an aircraft with an electronic interface. Flight controls are controlled through electronic
signals, which are transmitted using wires.

7. Why are flaps deflected downwards?

a) To decrease lift

b) To increase lift
c) To decrease the effective curvature of the wing

d) To increase the effective curvature of the wing

View Answer

Answer: d

Explanation: Flaps are deflected downwards to increase the effective curvature of the wing. Flaps are
used during descent or take off. They are used to reduce stalling speed of an aircraft and are mostly
used during low speed.

16. Which of the following axes passes from wingtip to wingtip through an aircraft?

a) Vertical axis

b) Transverse axis

d) Longitudinal axis

View Answer

Answer: b

Explanation: The transverse axis passes from wingtip to wingtip through an aircraft. It may also be called
the lateral axis. Rotation along this axis is called pitch, which is controlled by elevators.

17. Airbrakes are used to increase __________

a) Lift

b) Drag

c) Pitch

d) Thrust

View Answer

Answer: b

Explanation: The aircraft uses airbrakes to increase drag. The purpose of increasing drag is to slow down
the aircraft. These brakes are usually surfaces that emerge out from the fuselage.
18. The three critical flight dynamics parameters are?
a) Roll, pitch and yaw
b) Roll, pitch and jaw
c) Roll, play and yaw
d) Roll, play and jaw
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: The three critical flight dynamics parameters are roll, pitch and yaw. They may
also be referred to as the angles of rotation w.r.t. the aircraft’s three principal axes about its
center of gravity.

19. What happens if an aircraft yaws about its center of gravity?

a) A sideslip angle arises
b) Aircraft will crash
c) Aircraft will start descending
d) Angle of attack increases
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: When an aircraft yaws about its center of gravity, it creates a sideslip angle. It
is the angle between the wheels of an aircraft and the direction in which the aircraft is
travelling.

3. Which of the following gives the viscosity of flow?

a) Mach Number
b) Knudsen Number
c) Specific heat ratio
d) Reynolds Number
View Answer
Answer: d
Explanation: Viscosity of the flow is given by Reynolds Number. It is represented by Re.
Mach number indicates the compressibility of flow and Knudsen number indicates
rarefaction of the flow.

4. Which of the following is not an aerodynamic coefficient?

a) Pressure coefficient
b) Absolute temperature
c) Lift coefficient
d) Drag coefficient
View Answer
Answer: b
Explanation: Absolute temperature is not an aerodynamic coefficient. However, pressure
coefficient, lift coefficient and drag coefficient are all aerodynamic coefficients. A few other
aerodynamic coefficients are lateral force coefficient and friction coefficient.

20). Which of the following is not true about yaw?

a) About the vertical body axis
b) Positive with the nose to starboard
c) Measured in Hertz
d) Type of rotation
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: Yaw rotation is the rotation of a body, which changes the direction in which it is
pointing. It is an essential flight dynamic and is usually measured in degrees per second or
radians per second.

6. Flight dynamics studies the efficiency of vehicles travelling through air.

a) True
b) False
View Answer
Answer: b
Explanation: Flight dynamics studies the stability and control of vehicles travelling through
air. It does not study the efficiency of these vehicles; however, flight dynamics parameters
are designed so as to improve the efficiency of these vehicles.

21. The equilibrium roll angle is known as __________

a) Roll angle
b) Angle of incidence
c) Zero bank angle
d) Angle of attack

Answer: c
Explanation: The equilibrium roll angle is known as zero bank angle; it may also be called
wings level. The three critical flight dynamics refer to rotations about the respective axes
starting from a defined equilibrium state.

8. Which is the most dominant force in spacecraft flight dynamics?

a) Gravitational force
b) Nuclear force
c) Air resistance force
d) Lift and drag

Answer: a
Explanation: The most dominant force in spacecraft flight dynamics, is the gravitational
force. This is because aerodynamic forces affecting the spacecraft in air, are very small,
thereby making gravitational force dominant.

22. Control systems adjust the orientation of a vehicle about its __________
a) Pitch
b) Centre of gravity
c) Centre of mass

Answer: b
Explanation: The control systems adjust the orientation of a vehicle about its centre of
gravity. The control systems help rotate the aircraft in pitch, roll and yaw. It may be used to
pitch the aircraft up or down.

10. An aircraft adjusts the lift generated by the wings when it pitches nose up or down by
adjusting the angle of attack.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: Aircrafts increase or decrease the lift generated by the wings, by increasing or
decreasing the angle of attack. Angle of attack is adjusted by changing the position of the
nose of an aircraft.

11. Spacecraft flight dynamics does not involve which of the following forces?
a) Propulsive force
b) Gravitational force
c) Electromagnetic force
d) Lift and drag
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: Spacecraft flight dynamics does not include electromagnetic force. However,
propulsive force, lift and drag and gravitational force are all part of spacecraft flight
dynamics. Propulsive forces are most dominant in rockets.

23. What are the major sources of change in the aerodynamic forces and moments applied
to an aircraft?
a) Angle of attack of the wing and the angle of attack
b) Angle of attack of the wing and the angle of attack of the vertical tail
c) Angle of attack of the wing and the angle of incidence
d) Angle of incidence and the angle of attack of the vertical tail

Answer: b
Explanation: The two major sources of change in the aerodynamic forces and moments
applied to an aircraft are the angle of attack of the wing and the angle of attack of the
vertical tail. The two angles are important to maintain the center of gravity of an aircraft.

24. Aircrafts are streamlined from nose to tail to reduce __________

a) Turbulence
b) Thrust
c) Gravitational force
d) Drag

Answer: d
Explanation: The aircrafts are streamlined from nose to tail to reduce drag on the aircraft.
Increased drag reduces the airspeed of an aircraft and hence increases flying time.

25. Angle of attack of the vertical tail is also known as __________

a) Sideslip angle
b) Critical angle
c) Zero bank angle
d) Angle of incidence

Answer: a
Explanation: The angle of attack of the vertical tail is also known as Sideslip angle. It may
also be referred to as beta. Similarly, the angle of attack of the wing is referred to as alpha.

26. Which of the following aircraft systems includes an actuator?

a) Hydraulic systems
b) Electronic systems
c) Communication systems
d) Control systems

Answer: d
Explanation: The actuator is a part of the control system in an aircraft. Basically, an actuator
is a mover that requires a source of energy along with a control signal. The actuator works
in such a way, that it converts the incoming signal’s energy into mechanical signals.

27. Excessive dihedral can produce_______

a) Dutch roll

b) Thrust

C) Pitch

d) Deflection nose

Answer a

Dihedral is upward deflection of wing. It is used to provide roll stability. If excessive dihedral is provided
then, it will lead to Dutch roll; continuous side motion involving yaw and roll.

28. Which control surface is primarily used for spin recovery?

a) Rudder
b) Elevator
c) Aileron
d) Flap

Answer a
29. Wing sweep is used to ______
a) Increase critical Mach number
b) Decrease critical Mach number
c) increase lofting
d) increase drafting

Answer a

Clarification:- If wing is at some finite fuselage reference line then it is called wing is sweep by that
much degree. Main function of sweep is to increase critical mach number. Lofting is skin modeling is
drawing phenomena.
30. Typically tail provides_____
a) stability
b) control
c) stability and control
d) accelerating force
Answer c
Typically tail is used to provide stability and control. Accelerating force will provided from engines.
One of the main functions of the tail is to provide enough stability and controllability to make aircraft
fly smoother at the time of any disturbance.

31. and 32

33. Elevator provides control for______

a) pitching moment
b) yawing

c) roll

d) yaw-roll

Answer a

Elevator is one of the primary control surfaces of an aircraft. The elevator is located at the
horizontal tail. Elevator is responsible for pitching to provide required nose up or down
moment.

34 and 35

36. Which of the following is not part of tail?

a) Aileron
b) Rudder
c) Elevator
d) Horizontal stabilizer
Answer a
37.
38.

39.
40

41. and 42.

43. and 44
43. Which of the following is correct?
a) Wake of a canard can stall the engine
b) Wake will increase engine efficiency
c) wake will increase engine thrust
Answer a

A canard is a fuselage mounted, horizontal surface that is

located forward of the main wing to provide longitudinal stability
and control. Depending upon the installation, it may be a fixed,
moveable or variable geometry surface and may or may not
incorporate control surfaces
44. Supersonic wave drag can be reduced by using _______
a) area rule
b) drag ruling
c) lift augmentation
Answer a
45. and 46
 47.

48 only
48. The combination of ailerons and elevators is called______
a) Alevon
b) Spoiler
c) Elevon
Answer c

49. The term canard is used to describe the __________ configuration of an

aircraft.
a) Seating
b) Wing
c) Flap

Answer: b
Explanation: Canard refers to a wing arrangement in aircrafts. In canard
configuration, a small forewing is placed ahead of the main wing. The Wright Flyer
of 1903 had a canard arrangement.
50. The primary control of yaw is with the __________
a) Aileron
b) Elevator
c) Rudder

4. Which of the following is a part of the wing assembly of an aircraft?

a) Stabilizer
b) Edge flaps
c) Elevator

Answer: b
Explanation:

49. Which of the following is not a secondary control?

a) Slats
b) Ailerons
c) Spoilers
50.

51. For typical gliding flight, thrust will be ______.

a) zero
b) equal to the lift
c) always same as drag
52. The tangent of glide angle is ______
a) Equals to drag to lift ratio
b) lift to drag ratio
c) inverse of thrust
 53.

54.
54. Which of the following is correct for steady level flight?
a) T=D
b) T>D
C) L> W
55. ___________ is the quality of the response of an aircraft to the pilot's commands during
maneuvers.
a. Stability
b. Controllability
c. Maneuverability

Controllability is the quality of the response of an aircraft to the pilot’s commands while
maneuvering the aircraft.
56. What type of stability can be artificially increased with a yaw dampener?
a. Directional
b. Dynamic
c. Dutch roll
✓ A Dutch Roll is an aircraft motion consisting of an out-of-phase combination of yaw and
roll. Dutch roll stability can be artificially increased by the installation of a yaw damper.
57. Airbrakes are used to increase __________
a) Lift
b) Drag
c) Pitch
d) Thrust
Answer: b
Explanation: The aircraft uses airbrakes to increase drag. The purpose of increasing drag is to
slow down the aircraft. These brakes are usually surfaces that emerge out from the fuselage.

58. Which of the following axes passes from wingtip to wingtip through an aircraft?
a) Vertical axis
b) Transverse axis
c) Longitudinal axis
 Answer: b

Explanation: The transverse axis passes from wingtip to wingtip through an aircraft. It may also
be called the lateral axis. Rotation along this axis is called pitch, which is controlled by elevators.

59. Why are flaps deflected downwards?

a) To decrease lift
b) To decrease the effective curvature of the wing
c) To increase the effective curvature of the wing
View Answer
Answer: c

Explanation: Flaps are deflected downwards to increase the effective curvature of the wing. Flaps
are used during descent or take off. They are used to reduce stalling speed of an aircraft and are
mostly used during low speed.

60. Which of the following is not a part of flight control systems?

a) Ailerons
b) Elevators
c) Radars

Answer: c
Explanation: Radars are not a part of flight control systems. However, ailerons, elevators and flaps
are all part of the flight control systems. Some other flight control systems are elevens and
flaperons.

61. The rudder is a part of __________

a) Undercarriage
b) Empennage
c) APU

Answer: b
Explanation: The rudder is a part of the empennage. More specifically, it is mounted on the vertical
stabilizer, at the rear end of the aircraft. If the pilot pushes the left pedal, rudder is deflected left
and similarly when the pilot pushes the right pedal, rudder is deflected right.

62. What is the rotation about longitudinal axis called?

a) Roll
b) Pitch
c) Yaw

View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: The axis passing through the aircraft from nose to tail is called as longitudinal axis.
Rotation about the longitudinal axis is called roll. Further, the angular displacement about it is
called bank.
 63. Which of the following is not a secondary control?
a) Slats
b) Ailerons
c) Spoilers

Answer: b
Explanation: The ailerons are part of the primary cockpit flight controls. The roll and pitch of the
aircraft can be adjusted using the ailerons. Slats, spoilers and air brakes are part of the secondary
flight controls.

64. Airbrakes are used to increase __________

a) Lift

b) Drag

c) Pitch

Explanation: The aircraft uses airbrakes to increase drag. The purpose of increasing drag is to slow
down the aircraft. These brakes are usually surfaces that emerge out from the fuselage.

65. Which of the following axes passes from wingtip to wingtip through an aircraft?

a) Vertical axis

b) Longitudinal axis

c) Transverse axis

Answer: c

Explanation: The transverse axis passes from wingtip to wingtip through an aircraft. It may also be
called the lateral axis. Rotation along this axis is called pitch, which is controlled by elevators.