NIFE – Aero Exam Review Questions
with Complete Solutions
What is the lift equation? - Answer-Lift = 1/2*rho*V^2*S*Cl
What is included in the coefficient of lift? - Answer-CARVAC: Compressability, Aspect
Ratio, Viscosity, Angle of Attack, and Camber
What can the pilot change in the coefficient of lift? - Answer-Angle of Attack & Camber
What can the pilot change to affect lift? - Answer-Velocity, Angle of Attack, and Camber
(Flaps down)
What is CLmax? - Answer-Any increase in AOA after CLmax AOA, will result in
decrease lift (stall)
What happens to Clmax and Clmax AOA when flaps are down (engaged) - Answer-CL
max increases, CL max AOA decreases
What happens to stall speed when flaps are lowered? - Answer-Stall speed is slower
(you can fly more slowly without stalling)
What are the two types of drag? - Answer-Parasite & Induced
What type of drag is associated with the production of lift? - Answer-Induced
Describe the types of parasite drag - Answer-Form drag (shape, due to low pressure
wake), friction drag (skin/surface of the aircraft: bolts, dirt, etc)
What is the relationship between parasite drag to velocity? - Answer-Directly related
(exponentially). As velocity increases, parasite drag goes up by its square
What is f in the parasite drag equation? - Answer-Dp = 1/2*rho*V^2*f ; f is equivalent
parasite area
What is causing induced drag? - Answer-Spanwise flow coming over the wing causing
downwash and wingtip vortecies.
What happens to lift with induced drag? - Answer-Total lift vector is rotated aft,
decreases vertical lift vector
What is the relationship between velocity to induced drag? - Answer-Inversely related
(velocity decreases --> increased induced drag)
, What is the relationship between AOA and induced drag? - Answer-Directly related
How do you prevent induced drag? - Answer-Design - winglets/tanks/bombs; In flight:
ground effect (altitude within 1 wingspan AGL)
Describe L/Dmax AOA - Answer-The most efficient angle of attack, and is going to give
you max range
Describe airflow at the boundry layer - Answer-Laminar - smooth, peels away from the
wing easily (causing adverse pressure gradient resulting in stall). Turbulent - erratic, but
sticky (helps airflow adhere to the wing)
Does true stall speed change with altitude? - Answer-Yes, density is in the denominator
of the equation.
Does indicated stall speed change with altitude? - Answer-No. "Rho not" does not
change
What is the difference between power on and power off stall speed? - Answer-Power
on: has a lower stall speed because propwash (provides increased kinetic flow over the
wing root) and vertical component of thrust.
What is happening in a spin? - Answer-Inner (downgoing) wing is in greater stall and
more drag, decreasing lift, causing autorotation
Is wind going to affect take off distance? - Answer-Yes. Headwind - will decrease take
off distance
Is wind going to affect indicated take off speed? - Answer-No.
Object at end of runway - what kind of climb will you choose? - Answer-Max angle of
climb
Trying to get to Houston from Pensacola. How would you set your power? - Answer-
Max range - L/Dmax AOA
How would you describe max endurance? - Answer-Bottom of your power curved,
minimum fuel burned
How would you describe max glide range and max glide endurance? - Answer-Max
glide distance: L/D max AOA (minimum angle of descent), max glide endurance is the
minimum rate of descent
Is wind going to affect landing distance? - Answer-Yes
with Complete Solutions
What is the lift equation? - Answer-Lift = 1/2*rho*V^2*S*Cl
What is included in the coefficient of lift? - Answer-CARVAC: Compressability, Aspect
Ratio, Viscosity, Angle of Attack, and Camber
What can the pilot change in the coefficient of lift? - Answer-Angle of Attack & Camber
What can the pilot change to affect lift? - Answer-Velocity, Angle of Attack, and Camber
(Flaps down)
What is CLmax? - Answer-Any increase in AOA after CLmax AOA, will result in
decrease lift (stall)
What happens to Clmax and Clmax AOA when flaps are down (engaged) - Answer-CL
max increases, CL max AOA decreases
What happens to stall speed when flaps are lowered? - Answer-Stall speed is slower
(you can fly more slowly without stalling)
What are the two types of drag? - Answer-Parasite & Induced
What type of drag is associated with the production of lift? - Answer-Induced
Describe the types of parasite drag - Answer-Form drag (shape, due to low pressure
wake), friction drag (skin/surface of the aircraft: bolts, dirt, etc)
What is the relationship between parasite drag to velocity? - Answer-Directly related
(exponentially). As velocity increases, parasite drag goes up by its square
What is f in the parasite drag equation? - Answer-Dp = 1/2*rho*V^2*f ; f is equivalent
parasite area
What is causing induced drag? - Answer-Spanwise flow coming over the wing causing
downwash and wingtip vortecies.
What happens to lift with induced drag? - Answer-Total lift vector is rotated aft,
decreases vertical lift vector
What is the relationship between velocity to induced drag? - Answer-Inversely related
(velocity decreases --> increased induced drag)
, What is the relationship between AOA and induced drag? - Answer-Directly related
How do you prevent induced drag? - Answer-Design - winglets/tanks/bombs; In flight:
ground effect (altitude within 1 wingspan AGL)
Describe L/Dmax AOA - Answer-The most efficient angle of attack, and is going to give
you max range
Describe airflow at the boundry layer - Answer-Laminar - smooth, peels away from the
wing easily (causing adverse pressure gradient resulting in stall). Turbulent - erratic, but
sticky (helps airflow adhere to the wing)
Does true stall speed change with altitude? - Answer-Yes, density is in the denominator
of the equation.
Does indicated stall speed change with altitude? - Answer-No. "Rho not" does not
change
What is the difference between power on and power off stall speed? - Answer-Power
on: has a lower stall speed because propwash (provides increased kinetic flow over the
wing root) and vertical component of thrust.
What is happening in a spin? - Answer-Inner (downgoing) wing is in greater stall and
more drag, decreasing lift, causing autorotation
Is wind going to affect take off distance? - Answer-Yes. Headwind - will decrease take
off distance
Is wind going to affect indicated take off speed? - Answer-No.
Object at end of runway - what kind of climb will you choose? - Answer-Max angle of
climb
Trying to get to Houston from Pensacola. How would you set your power? - Answer-
Max range - L/Dmax AOA
How would you describe max endurance? - Answer-Bottom of your power curved,
minimum fuel burned
How would you describe max glide range and max glide endurance? - Answer-Max
glide distance: L/D max AOA (minimum angle of descent), max glide endurance is the
minimum rate of descent
Is wind going to affect landing distance? - Answer-Yes
