SAN ANTONIO SOARING SOCIETY, INC.

830-981-2344

Pre-Solo Written Test

Instructions: Read each question carefully and choose the answer(s) you feel is (are) the most correct.

1)-According to Federal Aviation Regulation (F.A.R.) there is a number of documents, which must be in the glider to legally fly. The minimum documents include:

a. Registration certificate, airworthiness certificate, and aircraft logbooks

b. Registration certificate, airworthiness certificate, and operating limitations

c. Registration certificate, airworthiness certificate, aircraft bill of sale.

2)-A solo student pilot may log as solo time:

  1. Only the time when the sole occupant of the aircraft.
  2. Only the time as sole manipulator of the controls.
  3. Only the time with an instructor

3)-As a solo student pilot, what documents must be in your possession while flying?

  1. Student pilot certificate, and radio license if the glider is equipped with radio
  2. Student pilot certificate & picture ID.
  3. None of these documents are required to be on your person while flying.

4)- If, as a student pilot you have not flown for 90 days, you:

  1. Must pass a check ride given by a flight instructor.
  2. Are legal to fly solo.
  3. Must pass both a practical and written examination.

5)-While flying, you notice a large twin-engine aircraft approaching from your right on an apparent collision course. You:

  1. Continue straight ahead since glider has the right of way
  2. Give right of way since the twin-engine is on your right, and legally has the right of way
  3. Maneuver in any way you think is necessary to avoid collision.

6)-While flying along the ridge, you seem to be overtaking another glider. Right of way rules require that you:

  1. Pass on the ridge side
  2. Pass on the right
  3. Descend until you are below the other glider in case it should decide to thermal

7)-FARs mandate when two aircraft are approaching head on:

  1. The smaller has right of way
  2. Each aircraft should alter its course to the right.
  3. The larger aircraft has the right of way.

8)-A Landing aircraft has the right of way over:

a. Everything

b. Everything except tow plane

c. Only those aircraft, which it has right of way over in cruising, flight.

9)-Maneuvering speed is:

  1. The speed used to fly in the traffic pattern while landing
  2. The speed used to fly while between thermals
  3. The speed used to fly while the aircraft’s control are moved sharply or with full deflection, to avoid structural damage

10)-The speed you should use to fly when searching for lift is:

  1. Best L/D speed.
  2. Best speed to fly.
  3. Minimum sink speed.

11)-Basic VFR minimums for controlled airspace are:

  1. Visibility 3 statute miles or greater, 500 feet below, 1000 feet above, and 2000 feet horizontally from clouds.
  2. Visibility 1 statute mile or greater, and clear of clouds.
  3. Visibility 1 statute mile or greater, 500 feet below, 1000 feet above, and 2000 feet horizontally from clouds.

12)-After your instructor has endorsed your student license or logbook for solo, you:

  1. May attempt a distance badge leg.
  2. May fly cross-country only after your instructor has reviewed your pre-flight planning.
  3. May fly within a 25 statute miles radius from your home base.

13)-The final responsibility of determining whether an aircraft is safe for flight lies with:

  1. A certified inspector
  2. The aircraft owner
  3. The pilot in command (PIC).

14)-Unless otherwise indicated, all turns made in traffic pattern of uncontrolled airfield will be to:

  1. Right
  2. Left
  3. Either right or left, depending on wind direction, obstacles etc…

15)-It is the pilot’s responsibility to familiarize himself/herself, with which of the following before a local flight?

  1. Weight and balance.
  2. Operating limits of the aircraft.
  3. Everything that pertains to the flight.
  4. Weather reports
  5. None of the above.
  6. All of the above

16)-Flying South West from Boerne stage airfield in VFR conditions, you know there is an instrument approach course crossing your intended flight path. You know to:

  1. Avoid this area to comply with FARs
  2. Exercise extreme caution since it is used for instrument approaches both in good and bad weather.
  3. Fly normally because all aircraft under instrument approaches are under radar surveillance and are kept advised of other traffic.

17)-During aero tow you see the tow plane violently rocking its wings. You must:

  1. Release immediately since it is the standard signal for tow plane in trouble
  2. Do nothing that is just a bad thermal hitting the tow plane.
  3. Release at your discretion since the two-lane is signaling you good lift.

18)-Immediately after being airborne, you realize that you have forgotten to remove the Pitot tube cover. You should:

  1. Release and land straight ahead on the remaining runway.
  2. Continue with the tow and set up a normal traffic pattern.
  3. Continue with flight since you know the pitot system works equally well with the cover in place

19)-While on aero-tow, you discover that you are unable to release the towline. You should signal the tow pilot by:

  1. Fishtail back and forth using the rudder.
  2. Fly to the left position and rock your wings.
  3. Descend into low tow position on the left side of the tow plane, and rock your wings.

20)-Circling birds are often a good sign of lift. Upon encountering circling birds you should:

  1. Circle below the birds as this will be the best area of lift.
  2. Overtake them by flying above or off to one side.
  3. Avoid the area entirely.

21)-Immediately after take-off, halfway along the 3000’ runway, the towline breaks. The most likely correct emergency procedure is:

  1. Extend dive brakes and apply full aft elevator and opposite rudder to reduce speed. Then land straight ahead on the remaining runway.
  2. Use higher than normal airspeed to gain altitude in order to make a 180-degree turn.
  3. Lower the nose, extend dive brakes, and land straight ahead on the runway.

22)-FARs concerning tow rope breaking strength require the rope to be:

  1. Not less than 80% of the maximum certificated gross weight of the glider, and not more than 200% of this weight.
  2. Not less than 80% of the actual flying weight of the glider, and not less than 200% of this weight.
  3. Not less than 100% of the actual weight of the glider, nor more than 200%.

23)-It is allowable to use tow rope strength of more than 200% if:

a. The total weight of the glider is less than 200% of the glider’s weight

b. There is a weak link installed at the glider end of the rope.

c. There is a weak link installed on both ends of the rope.

24)-Over half of the aircraft accidents are attributed to stalls. Regarding stalls, you know that:

a. A stall is a function of the angle of attack.

b. An aircraft can only stall below minimum sink speed.

  1. An aircraft can only stall if the nose is above the horizon.

25)-The primary tool for controlling angle of attack of the wing is:

  1. Airspeed.
  2. Relative airflow.
  3. Elevator.
  4. Dive brakes.

26)-The proper procedure to remove “mild” slack in the rope is:

  1. Yaw the nose of the glider away from the rope, using rudder while keeping the wings level.
  2. Apply dive brakes to tighten the towline.
  3. Climb to reduce speed and tighten towline.
  4. Release immediately.

27)- The proper procedure to remove “severe” slack in the rope is:

  1. Yaw the nose of the glider away from the rope, using rudder while keeping the wings level.
  2. Apply dive brakes to tighten the towline.
  3. Release immediately.
  4. Yaw the nose of the glider away from the rope, using rudder while keeping the wings level, then if necessary apply dive brakes to tighten the towline. If these actions are still not enough to eliminate the slack, then release immediately.
  5. Do nothing; since the tow plane is pulling the glider, the slack will eliminate itself after a short period of time.

28)-In order to comply fully with the FARs’ concerning pre-flight duties, you must:

  1. Compute a weight and Balance for the glider before flying it, with the appropriate useful load.
  2. Make sure that the glider is safe for flight before a serial of flights
  3. Make sure that the glider is safe for flight before each flight.
  4. Obtain weather brief to determine if forecast will allow you to pursue with the intended flight.
  5. All the above
  6. Only a, b, d,

29)-Angle of attack is the angle:

  1. Between the relative airflow and the horizon.
  2. Between the direction of motion and the horizon.
  3. Between the airfoil and the relative airflow.

30)-The danger in making steep turns close to the ground primarily lies with:

  1. The possibility of turbulence or a strong wind gradient.
  2. The need for excess speed.
  3. The possibility of an aggravated stall with spin.
  4. Helping a farmer to plow its field.
  5. The possibility of a button hook pattern.
  6. Both a, and c.

31)-The correct position for a crosswind takeoff is:

  1. Upwind aileron deflected up, and rudder deflected downwind
  2. Upwind aileron deflected down, and rudder deflected downwind
  3. Upwind aileron deflected up, and rudder deflected upwind
  4. Upwind aileron deflected down, and rudder deflected upwind

32)-The danger in making a downwind landing is:

  1. The illusion of high speed.
  2. Ineffectiveness of the rudder.
  3. Ineffectiveness of the ailerons
  4. Possibility of loosing control of the aircraft.
  5. Stalling the glider
  6. All the above

33)-After releasing from tow, the glider pilot should:

  1. Initiate a climbing turn to the right.
  2. Stay leveled until tow plane dive to the left, clear the end of the rope for the rings, then after clearing the area initiate a level turn to the right.
  3. Turn towards the glider port
  4. Turn towards thermalling gliders

34)-The primary function of the rudder is to:

  1. Turn the glider on its vertical axis
  2. Turn the glider on its horizontal axis
  3. Counteract aileron drag.
  4. Assist in recovery from stalls and spins.
  5. Perform sideslips.
  6. All of the above

35)-The primary function of the airbrakes is to:

  1. Increase lift
  2. Decrease lift
  3. Increase drag.
  4. Increase glide ratio
  5. Both b and c.

36)-The main purpose of the elevator trim is to:

  1. Make the elevator more effective.
  2. Relieve some of the pressure on the control stick.
  3. Raise the nose of the glider.

37)-The airspeed indicator:

  1. Gives Instantaneous airspeed indications.
  2. Lags slightly in its indication
  3. Displays a relative airspeed indication
  4. Display ground speed indication.
  5. B & C.

38)-You are turning left, and your yaw string is to the right, are you:

  1. Skidding and you need to apply more left rudder
  2. Skidding and you need to apply more right rudder
  3. Slipping and you need to reduce your banking
  4. Slipping and you need to apply more left rudder

39)-While running your landing “WUFSTALL) checklist, your realize that the airbrakes are frozen in the closed position, you:

  1. Keep going as usual and concentrate on flying the glider.
  2. Force the glider down and try to control the airspeed as much as you can
  3. Immediately initiate a forward sleep
  4. Immediately initiate a side sleep
  5. Slip the glider and “Look at the runway” to estimate your rate of descent, and adjust the amount of slipping needed. Modify your pattern as necessary. Fly the glider and land.

40)-While integrating the Pattern at the IP you:

  1. Place a radio call to inform all glider pilots that there is good lift in the Pattern
  2. Run your checklist then place a radio call
  3. Place a radio call to inform all other aircraft and ground control of your intentions, then run your checklist.
  4. Do nothing since glider have absolute priority on powered aircraft.

41)-In a 60-degree bank:

  1. Both you and the glider weight twice as much as on the ground.
  2. The load factor is 2
  3. The stalling speed increases by more than 40%
  4. You will need to pull on the stick.
  5. All the above

42)-Your glider is certified in which category:

  1. Normal
  2. Utility
  3. Acrobatic
  4. Electronic
  5. High performance

43)-The signal to tell the wing runner and/or tow plane to start launch is:

  1. Thumb Up
  2. Thumb Down
  3. Wag the rudder
  4. Place a radio call
  5. Do nothing; the tow pilot knows what to do.

44)-When do you hook the glider to the tow rope?

  1. As soon as you walk to the glider
  2. When the wing runner gives you the signal and say “open”
  3. After the wing runner asks you: “checklist complete?”
  4. When the tow pilot ask you on the radio if you are ready for tow.

45)-What is the SASSi VHF radio frequency:

  1. 122.00
  2. 122.5
  3. 123.05
  4. 123.50
  5. 123.00

46)-What cloud is an indication of good lift:

  1. Stratus
  2. Lenticular
  3. Cumulus
  4. Cumulonimbus

47)-What is the stall speed for your glider:

  1. 40kts
  2. Any speed
  3. What is indicated in the aircraft operating manual
  4. What is indicated on the glider placards
  5. The bottom of the green arc on the ASI (airspeed indicator)
  6. All the above
  7. Only b, c, d and e

48)-What is the best L/D of the Grob 103 you are going to fly?

49)-What is the maximum pilot weight for the Grob 103 twin II while flying solo?

50)-What is the recommended pattern speed for the Grob 103 at Boerne Stage airfield?

  1. 50kts
  2. 55kts adjusted for cross wind.
  3. 60kts
  4. 60kts adjusted for wind condition

51)-What is the date of the last annual inspection of the glider you are going to fly with,

and are you legally allowed to do so?

  1. Date:______yes I can fly the glider
  2. Date:______No I cannot fly the glider
  3. Date:______yes I can fly the glider, even if the date is over a year from last inspection
  4. Date:______yes I can fly the glider, the last annual inspection is not a factor in my decision.

52)-A parachute must be repacked by a certified rigger every:

  1. 60 days
  2. 90 days
  3. 120 days
  4. Not necessary as long as it works.

53)-Can you fly solo if you were told that you could but do not have an endorsement by a SASSI CFI-G in your logbook;

  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Maybe