FAA Private Pilot — Aerodynamics, Weather & Performance flashcards
10 of 70 cards free to study here · 14 topics · the whole deck is built into Willys
Forces, stalls and load factor, left-turning tendencies, stability, density altitude, weight and balance, V-speeds, flight instruments and compass errors, weather theory, hazards and reports, engine operation, aeromedical factors and ADM. Not affiliated with the FAA.
Learn deck · part of FAA Private Pilot Airplane knowledge test · written against: 14 CFR as of 2026, Private Pilot ACS, PHAK FAA-H-8083-25C. Updated 2026-10-10.
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How do the four forces relate to each other in straight-and-level, unaccelerated flight?They are in equilibrium: lift equals weight and thrust equals drag. The airplane speeds up, slows down, or starts to climb or descend only when one pair becomes unbalanced.Four Forces & Lift
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What single condition causes a wing to stall?Exceeding the critical angle of attack. A stall can therefore happen at any airspeed, any attitude and any power setting; the published stall speed holds only for a given weight, configuration and load factor.Stalls & Load Factor
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What is the difference between static and dynamic stability?Static stability is the initial tendency after a disturbance: to return (positive), stay (neutral) or diverge (negative). Dynamic stability is the behavior over time, for example whether pitch oscillations damp out (positive) or grow (negative).Stability & Ground Effect
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What is density altitude?Pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature. Pressure altitude is what the altimeter shows when set to 29.92 inches Hg. Standard sea level is 15°C and 29.92 inches Hg, with temperature falling about 2°C per 1,000 feet.Density Altitude & Performance
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What does the white arc on the airspeed indicator show, and what speeds mark its ends?The flap operating range. Its lower limit is Vso, the stall speed in the landing configuration; its upper limit is Vfe, the maximum flap-extended speed.V-Speeds & Airspeed Indicator
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Which flight instruments use the pitot tube, and which use only the static system?The airspeed indicator uses both pitot and static pressure. The altimeter and vertical speed indicator use static pressure only.Pitot-Static Instruments
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What weather characteristics distinguish stable from unstable air?Weather Theory
- Stable air: stratiform clouds and fog, smooth air, steady precipitation, fair to poor visibility in haze.
- Unstable air: cumuliform clouds, turbulence, showery precipitation, good visibility outside the showers.
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What are the three stages of a thunderstorm, and which is the most hazardous?Cumulus (updrafts build the cloud), mature (precipitation reaches the ground, with violent updrafts and downdrafts side by side) and dissipating (downdrafts dominate). The mature stage is the most hazardous.Weather Hazards
Why: a storm needs moisture, unstable air and a lifting force to form. -
Under what conditions is carburetor icing most likely?High humidity at outside temperatures below about 70°F (21°C), especially with relative humidity above 80 percent, and at low power settings with a partly closed throttle, as in descents. Fuel vaporization and the venturi's pressure drop chill the air, so ice can form on warm days too.Engine Operations
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What are the four types of hypoxia, with an example cause of each?Aeromedical & ADM
- Hypoxic: too little oxygen pressure at altitude.
- Hypemic: blood cannot carry enough oxygen (carbon monoxide, anemia, recent blood donation).
- Stagnant: poor circulation (high G, cold, shock).
- Histotoxic: cells cannot use oxygen (alcohol, some drugs).
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About these cards
Review status: Second-reader reviewed, with corrections applied.
Checked against:
- Checked against the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C), the Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C), the Aviation Weather Handbook (FAA-H-8083-28B, 2026) and the Aeronautical Information Manual; public domain U.S. government works.
- Topics follow the Private Pilot Airplane Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-6C, effective 31 May 2024); load-factor limits checked against 14 CFR 23.337 (2011 CFR text) for airplanes certificated in the normal, utility and acrobatic categories.
- Original wording written from author knowledge; no FAA test-bank, Sheppard Air, Gleim, King, Sporty's or ASA questions copied, and no figures used.
- Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Federal Aviation Administration.
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