Aviation Standard Test Battery-E (ASTB E) Practice Test

Which of the following is NOT a component of an aircraft's flight envelope?

1. Angle of attack

2. Speed

3. Weight

4. Altitude

The correct answer is: Weight

The flight envelope of an aircraft defines the operational limits of the aircraft in terms of various flight parameters. This includes factors such as angle of attack, speed, and altitude, which all directly influence the aircraft's performance and control characteristics during flight. Angle of attack is critical as it describes the angle between the wing's chord line and the oncoming airflow, which affects lift generation. Speed is equally essential, as it determines the aerodynamic forces acting on the aircraft, influencing its ability to maintain controlled flight. Altitude is another vital component, as it affects air density and subsequently influences lift, drag, and engine performance. Weight, while fundamental to aviation as it affects takeoff and landing distances and overall performance, is not considered a direct variable of the flight envelope in the same context. Instead, it is a static measure that influences the aircraft's overall performance characteristics but does not define the capabilities or limits of flight maneuvering in the same manner as angle of attack, speed, and altitude. In essence, weight is situational and affects the envelope but is not a parameter within the envelope itself.