Test Pilot

GENERAL

1. A four-place airplane with a normally aspirated engine that can cruise at more than 1 mph per horsepower is particularly efficient. What was the first production airplane that could do this?
2. From reader Rob Edward: Most pilots know that zero degrees Celsius represents the freezing point of water. What is the significance of zero degrees Fahrenheit?
3. What is the longest civilian airplane ever built?
4. What type of lighted landing facility is associated with each of the following types of beacons?
   1. alternating white and yellow
   2. green, yellow, and white
   3. two white flashes followed by green
   4. alternating white and green
5. An airport that is closed to VFR pilots because of low ceiling or visibility is said to be socked in. How did this expression originate?
6. Mosquito raids during World War II were ______.
7. From reader Hal Fishman: What was the fastest production fighter of World War II?
8. With respect to the new METAR weather format, what is the abbreviation for sleet?

TRUE OR FALSE

9. There are times when the minimum visibility for VFR flight in Class G (uncontrolled) airspace below 10,000 feet msl is 3 statute miles.
10. Other than during an emergency, a pilot may not operate an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner.
11. The typical general aviation altimeter cannot be set using an altimeter setting in excess of 31 inches of mercury.

MULTIPLE CHOICE

12. With respect to a typical general aviation airplane, which of the following does not belong?
    1. damage to property, other than the aircraft, in excess of $25,000
    2. failure of the structural components of an engine
    3. in-flight fire
    4. flight control system malfunction or failure
13. From reader Larry Johnston: William was born a Ukrainian peasant in 1895 and became a wealthy American industrialist by inventing and manufacturing a "quarter-turn-to-lock" fastener found on almost all airplanes. His last name was
    1. Dzeus.
    2. Dzus.
    3. Zeus.
    4. Zuse.
14. A pilot lands on a runway with white runway centerline lighting during poor visibility. When the white lights begin to alternate with red, the pilot knows that there is ______ feet of runway remaining. When the alternating white and red lights become red only, there is only ______ feet of runway remaining.
    1. 3,000; 1,500
    2. 3,000; 1,000
    3. 2,500; 1,500
    4. 2,000; 1,000

ANSWERS

1. The Cessna C-34 Airmaster, which was introduced on June 1, 1935, had a claimed top speed of 162 mph. Powered by a 145-hp Warner Super Scarab radial engine, it was touted as the world's most efficient airplane in 1935.
2. Zero degrees Fahrenheit is the temperature at which salt no longer prevents water from freezing.
3. The twin-engine Boeing 777-300, which is 242 feet 4 inches long. This is 10 feet longer than a Boeing 747-400 and 23 feet longer than Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose.
4. 1. seaport
   2. heliport
   3. military airport
   4. civilian airport
5. Socked in was originally sock in and was first used in early French aviation. During inclement weather, the windsock was dismasted and taken indoors. Also, the colloquially French meaning of sock was close in or conceal.
6. A mosquito raid was a bombing and/or strafing raid made by a single small airplane. It did not necessarily have anything to do with the famed and versatile de Havilland Mosquito.
7. The rocket-powered Messerschmitt Me.163 B-1a Komet, which in level flight had a maximum speed of 559 mph, an initial climb rate of 11,800 fpm, and an endurance of 7.5 minutes. More than 350 were produced.
8. Sleet is essentially a British term for ice pellets, the METAR code for which is PE. Ice pellets (or sleet) form when melted snow passes through frigid air (usually ahead of a warm front) and refreezes.
9. True. The minimum visibility in Class G airspace is 1 mile during daylight hours and 3 miles at night.
10. False. Although strongly discouraged, a pilot may fly in a careless or reckless manner as long as he does not endanger the life or property of another.
11. True. Also, such altimeters typically cannot accept a setting below 28.1 inches of mercury. Such limitations can present operational difficulties during periods of extremely high or low atmospheric pressure.
12. (b) The other occurrences must be immediately reported to the National Transportation Safety Board by the pilot or operator.
13. (b) The Dzus fastener is the most effective way to join nonstructural panels (such as engine cowlings) so as to allow quick assembly and disassembly. (Zeus was a Greek god.)
14. (b) Such a centerline lighting system is usually associated only with runways served by an instrument landing system (ILS).