Sample 1 · 081 08 · Flight Mechanics
What is the load factor in a level 60° banked turn?
- A1.41
- B2.0
- C1.15
- D3.0
Show the answer
Answer: B. 2.0
n = 1 ÷ cos 60° = 2.
SimplyATPL › 081 Principles of Flight
UK CAA ATPL(A) · Subject 081
ATPL Principles of Flight practice questions
Principles of Flight (081) covers subsonic and high-speed aerodynamics: lift and drag, stalls, high-lift devices, the boundary layer, stability, control, limitations such as the flight envelope and load factor, propellers and flight mechanics.
47original questions here
46questions in the practice paper
1 hour 30 minutestime allowed
Free, no sign-up. The practice paper uses the question count and time limit from CAA guidance for this subject. Check the CAA for the current figures before your exam.
About the exam
What to expect in 081 Principles of Flight
The questions reward real understanding of cause and effect. If you can explain why the stall speed rises with load factor, or how sweep changes stall behaviour, most questions answer themselves.
In the practice desk you can sit a full 46-question paper under exam conditions, or drill one syllabus topic at a time. Questions you miss come back after 1, 3, 7, 16 and 35 days, so weak areas get repeated until they stick.
Syllabus
081 syllabus topics
Every topic below has practice questions, and you can drill any of them on its own.
- 081 01Subsonic Aerodynamics · 14 questions
- 081 02High Speed Aerodynamics · 4 questions
- 081 03Stall, Mach Tuck and Upset Prevention and Recovery · 5 questions
- 081 04Stability · 4 questions
- 081 05Control · 5 questions
- 081 06Limitations · 4 questions
- 081 07Propellers · 4 questions
- 081 08Flight Mechanics · 7 questions
Try it
Sample ATPL Principles of Flight questions
Five questions from the bank. Each one in the practice desk has a worked explanation like these.
Sample 2 · 081 01 · Subsonic Aerodynamics
At the minimum drag speed (VMD), how do induced drag and profile (parasite) drag compare?
- AInduced drag is twice profile drag
- BThey are equal
- CInduced drag is at its maximum
- DProfile drag is zero
Show the answer
Answer: B. They are equal
Total drag is lowest where the two curves cross.
Sample 3 · 081 03 · Stall, Mach Tuck and Upset Prevention and Recovery
Why does a swept-back wing tend to pitch up at the stall?
- ADownwash on the tailplane increases at the stall
- BThe tailplane stalls before the wing
- CThe roots stall first, moving the centre of pressure aft
- DThe tips stall first, moving the centre of pressure forward
Show the answer
Answer: D. The tips stall first, moving the centre of pressure forward
Spanwise flow thickens the boundary layer at the tips.
Sample 4 · 081 02 · High Speed Aerodynamics
What is the critical Mach number?
- AThe maximum operating Mach number, MMO
- BWhen local airflow first reaches Mach 1
- CThe Mach number at which a shock wave first causes buffet
- DThe Mach number at which drag reaches its maximum
Show the answer
Answer: B. When local airflow first reaches Mach 1
It is the free-stream Mach number at which this first happens.
Sample 5 · 081 06 · Limitations
What is "coffin corner"?
- AThe altitude where the low-speed stall and high-speed buffet speeds converge
- BThe point where the critical Mach number equals the stall speed at sea level
- CA region of the envelope where flaps cannot be used
- DThe altitude where engine thrust no longer exceeds drag
Show the answer
Answer: A. The altitude where the low-speed stall and high-speed buffet speeds converge
The margin between them becomes very small.
Revision tips
How to revise Principles of Flight
- Learn the lift and drag equations and use them to reason through each question.
- Draw the drag curve and the flight envelope from memory, and mark the key speeds.
- For stability questions, decide whether the question is about static or dynamic stability before choosing an answer.
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