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Saturday 22nd November 2008
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Brainteasers Interactive Quiz #23:
Speeds

Pilots are obsessed (or at least they should be) with the need for speed -- not necessarily the most speed, but the appropriate speed. For virtually every aspect of flight, there's a particular speed that's optimum. Going faster or slower than the optimum speed may be inefficient, unsafe, or even deadly. Irv Siegel's latest interactive quiz poses a variety of situations wherein the pilot has to choose the correct speed at which to operate or on which to base certain calculations. Are you up to speed?

by Irv Siegel

Some of the questions in this quiz are based on basic airplane aerodynamics, while others have to do with ATC procedures as set forth in the FAA's Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM).

Answer the questions as best you can, then click on the "score" button to see your score and read the explanations. If you don't like your score the first time around, you can change some of your answers and resubmit. To get the most out of this quiz, we suggest you keep trying until you get a perfect score.

1. You are preparing for departure from a high-elevation airport on a warm summer day. Your Cessna 182 is loaded to its maximum certificated gross takeoff weight. You'd like to climb as rapidly as possible to your cruising altitude, and your POH shows only one airspeed for best rate of climb airspeed (Vy). You should plan to climb at:
a. the best rate of climb airspeed (Vy) as published in the POH.
b. an airspeed that is less than the published Vy.
c. an airspeed that is greater than the published Vy.
2. Same situation as question #1, except that this time you'd like to climb at as steep an angle as possible to your cruising altitude, and your POH shows only one airspeed for best angle of climb (Vx). You should plan to climb at:
a. the best angle of climb airspeed (Vx) as published in the POH for your aircraft.
b. an airspeed that is less than the published Vx.
c. an airspeed that is greater than the published Vx.
3. You are preparing for departure from a sea level airport on a standard day. Your aircraft is loaded well below its maximum certificated gross takeoff weight. You'd like to climb as rapidly as possible to your cruising altitude, and your POH shows only one airspeed for best rate of climb airspeed (Vy). You should plan to climb at:
a. the best rate of climb airspeed (Vy) as published in the POH.
b. an airspeed that is less than the published Vy.
c. an airspeed that is greater than the published Vy.
4. You've been flying at cruise altitude for three hours on a beautiful VFR day with no wind, when you suddenly experience a total engine failure. You locate a decent spot for a forced landing, but it's right at the maximum gliding distance for your airplane and you'll make it only if you fly at the optimum airspeed to achieve maximum glide distance. Your POH shows only one airspeed for best glide airspeed. You should use:
a. the best glide airspeed as published in the POH.
b. an airspeed that is less than the published best glide airspeed.
c. an airspeed that is greater than the published best glide airspeed.
5. You've been flying at cruise altitude for three hours and you suddenly run into an area of moderate to severe turbulence, and you have to use full and somewhat abrupt control movements in order to maintain the aircraft's attitude. You know that you should keep the airspeed at or below maneuvering speed (Va), and your POH shows only one airspeed for Va. You should use:
a. the maneuvering speed (Va) as published in the POH for your aircraft.
b. an airspeed that is less than the published Va.
c. an airspeed that is greater than the published Va.
6. You're flying an older aircraft that doesn't have a POH. The skinny Owner's Manual is a bad joke, and doesn't contain any information regarding short field takeoffs. However, it does specify a best angle of climb speed (Vx). If you wish to simulate a maximum-performance takeoff over a fifty foot obstacle, you should rotate and initially climb at:
a. The best angle of climb airspeed (Vx) as published in the Owner's Manual.
b. an airspeed that is less than the published Vx.
c. an airspeed that is greater than the published Vx.
7. When turning from base to final, you fly the same indicated airspeed at all airports. If you begin your turn at the same distance from final every time, then at a high-elevation airport you'll have to use:
a. the same bank angle as at a sea level airport.
b. a smaller bank angle than at a sea level airport.
c. a greater bank angle than at a sea level airport.
8. The speed that goes on an FAA flight plan form is:
a. indicated airspeed.
b. calibrated airspeed.
c. true airspeed.
d. groundspeed.
9. If ATC asks you to "say your airspeed," they're asking for your:
a. indicated airspeed.
b. calibrated airspeed.
c. true airspeed.
d. groundspeed.
10. When flying under IFR, one of the additional reports that should be made to ATC (or FSS) without a specific ATC request is a change in your average speed (at cruising altitude) when it varies by five percent or 10 knots (whichever is greater) from that filed in the flight plan. The speed referred to is:
a. indicated airspeed.
b. calibrated airspeed.
c. true airspeed.
d. groundspeed.
11. When flying a holding pattern under IFR from the minimum holding altitude up to 6000 feet, the maximum holding airspeed is 200 knots. What type of speed is this?
a. indicated airspeed.
b. calibrated airspeed.
c. true airspeed.
d. groundspeed.
12. When flying a timed non-precision approach under IFR, you should base the calculated time to the missed approach point on your:
a. indicated airspeed.
b. calibrated airspeed.
c. true airspeed.
d. groundspeed.
13. You are approaching a towered airport in Class D airspace. Unless otherwise authorized or required by ATC, you may not operate at or below 2500 feet above the surface within four nautical miles of the airport at more than:
a. 200 MPH indicated airspeed.
b. 200 knots indicated airspeed.
c. 230 MPH true airspeed.
d. 230 knots true airpseed.
14. Maximum structural cruising speed is shown on the face of an airspeed indicator as:
a. a red radial line.
b. the lower limit of the yellow arc.
c. the lower limit of the green arc.
d. none of these, because maximum structural cruising speed isn't shown on an airspeed indicator.
15. Maneuvering speed is shown on the face of an airspeed indicator as:
a. a red radial line.
b. the lower limit of the yellow arc.
c. the lower limit of the green arc.
d. none of these, because maneuvering speed isn't shown on an airspeed indicator.

If you enjoyed taking this interactive quiz and would like to see more like it, please let us know. And if you thought it was unfair, confusing, or a waste of time, we'd like you to tell us that, too. And if you have an idea for a subject that you think would make a good future Brainteaser quiz, be sure to let us know.

Return to the AVweb Brainteasers page.






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If you enjoyed taking this interactive quiz and would like to see more like it, go to the AVweb Brainteaser page. And if you thought it was unfair, confusing, or a waste of time, we'd like you to tell us that, too. And if you have an idea for a subject that you think would make a good future Brainteaser quiz, be sure to let us know.

Return to the AVweb Brainteasers page.

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