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How to Fly an Aeroplane Trivia Quiz

As a hobby pilot, or General Aviation pilot as we prefer to say, I was happy to see an author challenge with this title. You do not need to be a pilot to do this quiz!

A multiple-choice quiz by akg1486. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
akg1486

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
375,596

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
346

Last 3 plays: Guest 99 (10/10), Guest 205 (9/10), mandy2 (8/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. There are exceptions, but most aircraft take off and land at an airfield or airport. These are given international codes with four characters such as KLAX for Los Angeles International and EGLL for London Heathrow. Which organization, a part of the United Nations, assigns them? Hint

UNICEF

UNESCO

ICAO

WHO

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. During pre-flight checks we verify that all lights work properly. What colors, the same as those used on ships, do the navigation lights at the wingtips have? Hint

Blue and Green

Yellow and Blue

Red and Yellow

Red and Green

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Question 3 of 10

3. Pre-flight checks completed, we can taxi to the runway and take off. Can I take off without having permission, just like I can drive away with my car? Hint

Yes, always

On uncontrolled airfields only

No, never

On Saturdays and Sundays only

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Question 4 of 10

4. We are off! We are accelerating down the runway and I gently pull the yoke ("steering wheel") towards me to lift off the ground. The yoke is connected to a control surface at the tail end of the aircraft that causes the nose to pitch up. What is that control surface called? Hint

Tail rudder

Elevator

Lifter

Heaver

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Question 5 of 10

5. Now we are climbing to our chosen cruise altitude. I use the altimeter to let me know how high we are at all times. How do most altimeters work? Hint

Using GPS

Using laser beams

Using air pressure

Using radio signals

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Question 6 of 10

6. I consult my map and I see that we have 60 nautical miles (NM) to go. That is about 69 miles or 111 kilometers. We are traveling at 120 knots. How long time will it take us to get there? Hint

45 minutes

One hour

30 minutes

20 minutes

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. When talking to the air traffic control, I identify myself with the registration mark of the aircraft. Flying mostly Swedish aircraft, that registration starts with the letters "SE". How do I say that on the radio? Hint

Ess Eee

Sierra Echo

S as in Somewhere, E as in Everywhere

Se-Se-Se

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Approaching our destination, I reduce the speed to prepare for landing. It is the speed that keeps us flying: without it the wings do not generate any lift and we would quickly lose altitude. What is the term for the speed under which the lift drastically reduces? Hint

Minimum speed

Cruise speed

Flying speed

Stall speed

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Question 9 of 10

9. Just before the landing, I want to fly at a speed that is very close to the aircraft's normal stall speed, which is a bit risky. What can I do to increase my safety margin? Hint

Lean to one side

Make erratic turns

Deploy flaps

Pushing the yoke forward

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. After landing, I need to turn off the little gadget that allows air traffic control to see where I am when I'm in the air. What is that called? Hint

Identifier

Radio

Black box

Transponder

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Most Recent Scores

Oct 22 2024 : Guest 99: 10/10
Oct 17 2024 : Guest 205: 9/10
Oct 17 2024 : mandy2: 8/10
Oct 16 2024 : Guest 108: 10/10
Oct 06 2024 : Guest 156: 9/10
Sep 20 2024 : DryEtch: 6/10
Sep 17 2024 : Guest 158: 8/10
Sep 12 2024 : Guest 72: 10/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: ICAO

The International Civil Aviation Organization acts as an umbrella organization for the world's aviation authorities such as FAA in the U.S. and EASA in Europe. The three-letter codes you see on the luggage tags are assigned by IATA, the International Air Transport Authority.

2. During pre-flight checks we verify that all lights work properly. What colors, the same as those used on ships, do the navigation lights at the wingtips have?

Answer: Red and Green

Green light on the right wing, red light on the left. This allows other pilots to see which way I am going, in particular when flying in the dark.

3. Pre-flight checks completed, we can taxi to the runway and take off. Can I take off without having permission, just like I can drive away with my car?

Answer: On uncontrolled airfields only

It may surprise non-pilots that on many airfields there is no need for air traffic control. Such places are referred to as "uncontrolled".

Some airports are controlled during specific times only, so Saturday/Sunday may very well apply in some places. But definitely not as a general rule.

Answer: Elevator

Some exotic types of aircraft have the elevator in the front instead.

5. Now we are climbing to our chosen cruise altitude. I use the altimeter to let me know how high we are at all times. How do most altimeters work?

Answer: Using air pressure

The air pressure decreases as you climb, which is why you need oxygen to climb really high mountains. An altimeter makes use of this fact: it measures the air pressure and converts it to an altitude on a scale in the cockpit.

Some aircraft have a radar altimeter, but that is only used on the final approach for landing.

6. I consult my map and I see that we have 60 nautical miles (NM) to go. That is about 69 miles or 111 kilometers. We are traveling at 120 knots. How long time will it take us to get there?

Answer: 30 minutes

120 knots is the same as 120 NM per hour, so we only need half an hour to fly 60 NM.

Answer: Sierra Echo

The information must pass quickly and with little risk of misunderstanding, even if there are static disturbances. Pilots and air traffic control use the ITU radio phonetic alphabet. Some countries, like Sweden, have a national phonetic alphabet as an alternative.

Answer: Stall speed

"Stall" is when we lose lift abruptly. Technically, there is no such thing as "stall speed": the lift reduces drastically at a certain angle of attack, which is the angle between the wing and the airflow. Most small aircraft don't have an indicator for angle of attack, so the air speed measurement serves as an implicit indication.

9. Just before the landing, I want to fly at a speed that is very close to the aircraft's normal stall speed, which is a bit risky. What can I do to increase my safety margin?

Answer: Deploy flaps

Flaps are little devices that change the shape of the wing and therefore lower the stall speed. It is possible to land without flaps, but then at a higher speed which in turn requires a longer runway.

Pushing the yoke forward increases the speed. Leaning to one side is useful when there is wind from the side, but does not improve the safety margin for the speed. To make erratic turns would be plain dangerous.

10. After landing, I need to turn off the little gadget that allows air traffic control to see where I am when I'm in the air. What is that called?

Answer: Transponder

The system is called secondary radar surveillance. When hit by a radar beam, the transponder responds with its identity and also other information depending on type. If I should turn it off, I am still visible on primary radar, but then only as a blip on the screen.

Source: Author akg1486

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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