ATC BASICS EXAM PREP QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS 2026 GRADED A+
◉ What is the primary source of lift? Answer: Bernoulli's Principle
◉ What is the secondary source of lift? Answer: Newton's third law
◉ Describe Newton's third law. Answer: Upward force generated by air
striking the underside of an airfoil and being deflected downward.
◉ What is relative wind? Answer: Direction of airflow produced by
object moving through the air
◉ What direction does relative wind flow? Answer: Parallel with and
opposite to direction of flight
◉ Three main airfoils. Answer: Wing, horizontal stabilizer, prop
◉ What is the chord line? Answer: imaginary line from the leading edge
to trailing edge of the wing.
◉ What are the parts of an airfoil? Answer: Leading edge, Trailing edge,
and Chord line
,◉ What is angle of attack? Answer: angle between the chord line and
relative wind.
◉ Describe camber. Answer: Curvature of an airfoil, from leading edge
to the trailing edge.
◉ What is the shape or form of a wing viewed form above? Answer:
Wing Planform
◉ Four forces affecting flight. Answer: Lift, Weight, Trust, Drag
◉ Three properties that affect air density and A/C performance. Answer:
Temp, Altitude of elevation, humidity
◉ What is the average surface temp in the U.S. Answer: 59 degrees.
◉ What is the average lapse rate? Answer: 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2
degrees C) every 1,000 feet.
◉ What air is denser. Warm or cold? Answer: Cold
, ◉ Lower pressure is associated with what kind of air? Answer: Thin, or
less dense air
◉ Does High or Low density altitude indicate thinner air? Answer: High
◉ List some ways that performance is reduce by Higher density altitude,
High temp, and High elevation. Answer: Longer takeoff roll, Longer
landing roll, Slower climb rate, Landing speed increased.
◉ Three propeller types. Answer: Adjustable, (adjust on ground). Fixed
pitch. Controllable, (auto varied in flight.
◉ Longitudinal axis rotates ______. Answer: Roll
◉ Lateral axis rotates ________. Answer: Pitch
◉ Vertical axis rotates ________. Answer: Yaw
◉ Longitudinal axis controls what? Answer: Angle of bank. Heading.
◉ Lateral axis controls what? Answer: Angle of attack. Altitude.
SOLUTIONS 2026 GRADED A+
◉ What is the primary source of lift? Answer: Bernoulli's Principle
◉ What is the secondary source of lift? Answer: Newton's third law
◉ Describe Newton's third law. Answer: Upward force generated by air
striking the underside of an airfoil and being deflected downward.
◉ What is relative wind? Answer: Direction of airflow produced by
object moving through the air
◉ What direction does relative wind flow? Answer: Parallel with and
opposite to direction of flight
◉ Three main airfoils. Answer: Wing, horizontal stabilizer, prop
◉ What is the chord line? Answer: imaginary line from the leading edge
to trailing edge of the wing.
◉ What are the parts of an airfoil? Answer: Leading edge, Trailing edge,
and Chord line
,◉ What is angle of attack? Answer: angle between the chord line and
relative wind.
◉ Describe camber. Answer: Curvature of an airfoil, from leading edge
to the trailing edge.
◉ What is the shape or form of a wing viewed form above? Answer:
Wing Planform
◉ Four forces affecting flight. Answer: Lift, Weight, Trust, Drag
◉ Three properties that affect air density and A/C performance. Answer:
Temp, Altitude of elevation, humidity
◉ What is the average surface temp in the U.S. Answer: 59 degrees.
◉ What is the average lapse rate? Answer: 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2
degrees C) every 1,000 feet.
◉ What air is denser. Warm or cold? Answer: Cold
, ◉ Lower pressure is associated with what kind of air? Answer: Thin, or
less dense air
◉ Does High or Low density altitude indicate thinner air? Answer: High
◉ List some ways that performance is reduce by Higher density altitude,
High temp, and High elevation. Answer: Longer takeoff roll, Longer
landing roll, Slower climb rate, Landing speed increased.
◉ Three propeller types. Answer: Adjustable, (adjust on ground). Fixed
pitch. Controllable, (auto varied in flight.
◉ Longitudinal axis rotates ______. Answer: Roll
◉ Lateral axis rotates ________. Answer: Pitch
◉ Vertical axis rotates ________. Answer: Yaw
◉ Longitudinal axis controls what? Answer: Angle of bank. Heading.
◉ Lateral axis controls what? Answer: Angle of attack. Altitude.
