AOPA Aerodynamics (Answered) 99
Questions and Correct Answers. 100%
Verified. 2025/2026.
behind the power curve
pitch down
low altitude
air speed
return to airport
air speed
flight path
The path described by its center of gravity as it moves through an air mass. opposite of relative wind
Relative Wind
the flow of air which moves opposite the flight path of an airplane
Accelerated Stall
Occurs at a speed higher than the normal one-G stall speed; critical angle of attack NOT airspeed is
the reason for stalls. additional lift needed to overcome inertia and change direction
Which of the following actions should you take to recover from a behind-the-power-curve situation
on final approach?
Lower the nose and add power
A wing will always stall at the same _____.
Angle of attack
When an airplane falls "behind the power curve," the amount of _____ increases rapidly as airspeed
decreases.
Induced drag
"region of reverse command," more commonly known as the area behind the power curve
aircraft designed to achieve higher speeds
have higher wing loading and correspondingly higher stall speeds. Many of them also have different
handling characteristics than less performance-oriented airplanes.
An airplane's published maneuvering speed (Va) is only accurate at max gross weight.
It's lower at lighter weights because the airplane has less inertia and is more easily "thrown around"
by turbulence or abrupt maneuvering.
, Airfoil
any surface designed to obtain a desired reaction force (i.e., lift) when in motion relative to the
surrounding air. Example: airplane wing & propeller blade
Which of the following problems could result from loading an airplane so that its center of gravity is
too far aft?
Difficulty recovering from stalls
Increased risk of a flat spin
Insufficient elevator authority during go-arounds
An aft CG increases the likelihood that a spin will "go flat," which can complicate (or even prevent)
recovery.
lower stall speed; shorten take off
Camber
the curvature of the airfoil (e.g., the wing) from the leading edge to the trailing edge. In the diagram
below, the curve on top of the airfoil is called the upper camber, and the curve on the bottom is
called the lower camber.
Chord Line
an imaginary straight line drawn from the leading edge to the trailing edge of a cross section of an
airfoil
Leading Edge
the edge of the airfoil that faces forward in the flight and is normally rounded
Trailing Edge
the back edge of the airfoil hat passes through the air last and is normally narrow and tapered.
Angle of Attack
the angle between the chord line of the wing and the relative wind (which is parallel to the flight
path).
The angle of attack is always based on the
flight path, not the ground.
Angle of incidence
the angle formed by the chord line of the wing and the longitudinal axis of the airplane. It is the
angle at which the wing is attached to the fuselage. Since it is determined by airplane design, it is a
fixed angle and cannot be changed by the pilot.
Attitude
Relationship of the airplane to the horizon, i.e., its pitch angle (nose up or down) and its bank angle
(left or right). Attitude is measured in number of degrees of both pitch and bank.
Center of gravity
Questions and Correct Answers. 100%
Verified. 2025/2026.
behind the power curve
pitch down
low altitude
air speed
return to airport
air speed
flight path
The path described by its center of gravity as it moves through an air mass. opposite of relative wind
Relative Wind
the flow of air which moves opposite the flight path of an airplane
Accelerated Stall
Occurs at a speed higher than the normal one-G stall speed; critical angle of attack NOT airspeed is
the reason for stalls. additional lift needed to overcome inertia and change direction
Which of the following actions should you take to recover from a behind-the-power-curve situation
on final approach?
Lower the nose and add power
A wing will always stall at the same _____.
Angle of attack
When an airplane falls "behind the power curve," the amount of _____ increases rapidly as airspeed
decreases.
Induced drag
"region of reverse command," more commonly known as the area behind the power curve
aircraft designed to achieve higher speeds
have higher wing loading and correspondingly higher stall speeds. Many of them also have different
handling characteristics than less performance-oriented airplanes.
An airplane's published maneuvering speed (Va) is only accurate at max gross weight.
It's lower at lighter weights because the airplane has less inertia and is more easily "thrown around"
by turbulence or abrupt maneuvering.
, Airfoil
any surface designed to obtain a desired reaction force (i.e., lift) when in motion relative to the
surrounding air. Example: airplane wing & propeller blade
Which of the following problems could result from loading an airplane so that its center of gravity is
too far aft?
Difficulty recovering from stalls
Increased risk of a flat spin
Insufficient elevator authority during go-arounds
An aft CG increases the likelihood that a spin will "go flat," which can complicate (or even prevent)
recovery.
lower stall speed; shorten take off
Camber
the curvature of the airfoil (e.g., the wing) from the leading edge to the trailing edge. In the diagram
below, the curve on top of the airfoil is called the upper camber, and the curve on the bottom is
called the lower camber.
Chord Line
an imaginary straight line drawn from the leading edge to the trailing edge of a cross section of an
airfoil
Leading Edge
the edge of the airfoil that faces forward in the flight and is normally rounded
Trailing Edge
the back edge of the airfoil hat passes through the air last and is normally narrow and tapered.
Angle of Attack
the angle between the chord line of the wing and the relative wind (which is parallel to the flight
path).
The angle of attack is always based on the
flight path, not the ground.
Angle of incidence
the angle formed by the chord line of the wing and the longitudinal axis of the airplane. It is the
angle at which the wing is attached to the fuselage. Since it is determined by airplane design, it is a
fixed angle and cannot be changed by the pilot.
Attitude
Relationship of the airplane to the horizon, i.e., its pitch angle (nose up or down) and its bank angle
(left or right). Attitude is measured in number of degrees of both pitch and bank.
Center of gravity
