Test Pilot

GENERAL

1. What well-known, post-World War II general aviation airplane was designed and manufactured without ailerons?
2. Name the women who were the first of their gender to a) travel into space; b) become a space-shuttle commander; c) make a blind (zero-zero) landing; d) fly at night; and e) become a U.S. airline pilot.
3. The logo of the BMW automobile consists of a circle divided into four 90-degree sectors, two blue and two white. The logo was designed to reflect the manufacturer's aviation heritage. Specifically what is this symbology intended to represent?
4. What was the only Allied jet-powered aircraft to see action during World War II?
5. From reader Bill Rimer: An aircraft is more than 3,000 agl with the bug of its radio (absolute) altimeter set at 500 feet agl. Assuming that the altimeter is operating normally, what could cause the light to illuminate and the aural warning to sound?
6. The Grumman TBF was the largest airplane used routinely on American aircraft carriers during World War II. Why was it called the Avenger?
7. From reader Jan Dabrowski: A pilot approaching some airports at night might key his microphone to activate PCL (pilot-controlled lighting). At any time, the mic could be keyed to activate what might be dubbed PCS. What would this be?
8. From reader Jerry Yochelson: Fourteen days after Charles A. Lindbergh landed in Paris on May 21, 1927, someone with the initials C.A.L. took off from New York with another and flew nonstop to Eisleben, Germany, breaking the New York-to-Paris distance record by 295 sm. Who were these airmen?

TRUE OR FALSE

9. The pilot of a single-engine airplane experiences fuel exhaustion and makes an off-airport forced landing during which he substantially damages his aircraft. He need not report this accident to either the FAA or the NTSB.
10. From reader Amer Khashoggi: The pilot of a pressurized Boeing 767 cruising at Flight Level 350 (35,000 feet) begins to descend for landing. Cabin pressure must be increased (cabin altitude decreased) prior to landing.
11. From reader Will Vargish: "Get-home-itis" and "destinationitis" are figures of speech that correctly describe a pilot's desire to focus excessively on reaching his destination.

MULTIPLE CHOICE

12. For instrument-rated pilots: A pilot receives a clearance to maintain "VFR-on-top." The appropriate altitude to maintain on his eastbound magnetic course
    1. is 5,000 feet msl.
    2. is 5,500 feet msl.
    3. will be assigned by air traffic control.
    4. cannot be determined.
13. From reader Walt Davie: The world's largest aircraft was or is powered by
    1. diesel engines.
    2. conventional reciprocating engines.
    3. turboprop engines.
    4. turbofan or turbojet engines.
14. Which of the following does not belong?
    1. Cessna 160
    2. Cessna 165
    3. Cessna 305
    4. Cessna 350

TEST PILOT ANSWERS

1. The Mitsubishi MU-2 turboprop airplane has spoilers for roll control instead of ailerons.
2. a) Valentina Tereshkova; b) Eileen Collins; c) Jacqueline Cochran; d) Ruth Law; and e) Helen Richey.
3. The white sectors represent a white propeller spinning against a blue sky.
4. First flown on March 5, 1943, the British Gloster Meteor entered service in the Royal Air Force on July 12, 1944.
5. Such a momentary warning can be caused by overflying a large formation of migrating birds or other aircraft.
6. The Avenger was designed and built to avenge the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
7. A pilot-controlled siren (PCS) or "landing alert siren system" can be activated from the air at some airports (such as McKinley National Park Airport in Alaska) to warn pedestrians and frighten away animals that might be on or near the runway.
8. Clarence Chamberlin flew and navigated the single-engine Bellanca monoplane, Miss Columbia. His passenger on this 3,905-sm flight was Charles A. Levine.
9. True. This accident need not be reported unless property damage to other than the aircraft exceeds $25,000. Review Part 830 of the NTSB regulations to determine when such reports are required.
10. False. When landing at a destination that has an elevation that is above the cabin altitude, cabin pressure must be decreased (cabin altitude increased) before landing to match the lower ambient pressure (higher pressure altitude) of the destination airport.
11. False. The suffix "itis" denotes an inflammation (medically speaking). The terms would more correctly be "get-home-philia" or "destinationphilia." The suffix "philia" describes a liking or a tendency.
12. d) The pilot must remain in VFR conditions at an appropriate VFR altitude that is at or above the minimum en route altitude. The appropriate altitude cannot be determined, therefore, without knowing the MEA.
13. a) The mammoth 803-foot-long LZ-29 airship, Hindenburg, was powered by four Daimler-Benz LOF-6, 16-cylinder, 1,100-horsepower engines. Each turned a four-bladed wooden propeller that had a diameter of 19 feet 9 inches.
14. d) There is no such thing as a Cessna 350, but Cessna did produce the others. The high-wing, four-place Cessna 160 is still flying, the Cessna 165 was called the Airmaster, and the Cessna 305 is the venerable Bird Dog.

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