Free Flight Instructor Sport Glider Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Flight Instructor Sport Glider practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A sport pilot and one passenger rent a glider for a personal flight. The only operating expense is a $240 aircraft rental fee. What is the minimum amount the pilot must pay?

   1. A. $60
   2. B. $80
   3. C. $120
   4. D. $240

   Answer: C

   Explanation: Section 61.315(b) states, "You must pay at least half the operating expenses of the flight." Half of $240 is $120; $60 quarters the fee, $80 divides it among three, and $240 fails to apply the permitted sharing.

   Reference: 14 CFR Part 61—Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors — §61.315(b)

2. 2A glider landing results in one isolated fracture. Which diagnosis meets the Part 830 serious-injury definition by the fracture criterion alone?

   1. A. A simple fracture of a finger
   2. B. A simple fracture of a toe
   3. C. A simple fracture of the nose
   4. D. A fracture of the tibia

   Answer: D

   Explanation: The serious-injury definition includes "a fracture of any bone (except simple fractures of fingers, toes, or nose)". A tibial fracture qualifies; the other diagnoses are the expressly excluded simple fractures.

   Reference: 49 CFR Part 830—Aircraft Accident and Incident Notification and Reporting — §830.2, Serious injury, clause (2)

3. 3A glider pilot approaches an airport that has no tower, FSS, or UNICOM. Which frequency does the AIM specify for self-announcing at that airport?

   1. A. 122.700 MHz
   2. B. 122.800 MHz
   3. C. 122.900 MHz
   4. D. 122.950 MHz

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The AIM states, "Where there is no tower, FSS, or UNICOM station on the airport, use MULTICOM frequency 122.9 for self‐announce procedures." The other choices are different designated airport communication frequencies.

   Reference: Aeronautical Information Manual—Services Available to Pilots — 4-1-9, Self-Announce Position and/or Intentions

4. 4A glider pilot finds that temperature increases with altitude through a layer above the airfield. What effect should the pilot expect from this inversion on rising thermals?

   1. A. It forms a stable cap that limits thermal ascent.
   2. B. It forms an unstable layer that strengthens thermal ascent.
   3. C. It forms a neutral layer that leaves vertical motion unchanged.
   4. D. It forms conditional instability that favors saturated ascent.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The handbook states, "an inversion also effectively caps any thermal activity." Temperature increasing with height makes this layer stable, limiting rising thermals. Unstable, neutral and conditionally unstable layers are different atmospheric stability states, not the stated inversion's effect.

   Reference: Glider Flying Handbook—Chapter 9: Glider Flight & Weather — Thermals, inversion and atmospheric stability

5. 5Two gliders approach each other nearly head-on at the same altitude. What course change does §91.113(e) require of each pilot?

   1. A. Alter course to the right
   2. B. Alter course to the left
   3. C. Maintain the present course
   4. D. Reverse the present course

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Section 91.113(e) states, "each pilot of each aircraft shall alter course to the right." Both aircraft follow the same direction rule to create separation.

   Reference: 14 CFR Part 91—General Operating and Flight Rules — §91.113(e)

6. 6For assessing a self-launching glider's takeoff performance, which description defines density altitude?

   1. A. Pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard atmospheric temperature
   2. B. Vertical distance above the terrain directly beneath the glider
   3. C. Vertical distance above mean sea level rather than local terrain
   4. D. Altitude indicated with the altimeter set to 29.92 inches of mercury

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The FAA states, "Density altitude is the pressure altitude corrected for temperature." The other definitions describe absolute altitude, true altitude and pressure altitude, respectively. Those are real altitude references, but they do not incorporate the nonstandard-temperature correction that defines density altitude.

   Reference: Fly Safe: Prevent Loss of Control Accidents—Mountain Flying — Density Altitude

7. 7For a glider loading calculation, an occupant weighs 180 lb and the seat arm is 40 inches aft of the datum. What positive moment does this occupant contribute?

   1. A. 4.5 lb-in
   2. B. 220 lb-in
   3. C. 180 lb-in
   4. D. 7,200 lb-in

   Answer: D

   Explanation: The handbook gives "Weight × Arm = Moment." Multiplying 180 × 40 gives 7,200 lb-in. The alternatives divide weight by arm, add weight and arm, or carry the occupant's weight into the moment column without applying the arm.

   Reference: Glider Flying Handbook—Chapter 5: Glider Performance — Sample Weight & Balance Problems, moment formula

8. 8A glider is maneuvering at an airspeed above its published one-G stall speed. Which condition can still cause the wing to stall?

   1. A. Exceeding the wing's critical angle of attack
   2. B. Reducing the wing's angle of attack below its critical value
   3. C. Reducing the wing's load factor while holding speed
   4. D. Increasing the wing's speed while holding lift coefficient

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The handbook states, "A stall occurs whenever the angle between the chord line and relative wind exceeds the critical AOA." Airspeed alone does not prevent a stall. Reducing AOA or load factor does not produce the stated condition.

   Reference: Glider Flying Handbook—Chapter 3: Aerodynamics of Flight — Stalls

9. 9A glider pilot evaluates the risk from a towline break by considering both how often it might occur and how serious the resulting outcome could be. Which pair defines the risk associated with that hazard?

   1. A. Likelihood and severity
   2. B. Severity and aircraft age
   3. C. Likelihood and certificate level
   4. D. Aircraft age and certificate level

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The handbook states, "The composite of predicted severity and likelihood of the potential effect of a hazard constitutes the risk." Aircraft age or certificate level may influence an assessment but do not replace the two defining dimensions.

   Reference: Glider Flying Handbook—Chapter 13: Human Factors — Risk Management, likelihood and severity

10. 10Before a glider flight, a pilot wants published airport runway facilities, available services, and airport remarks in one airport entry. Which FAA publication is intended for that information?

    1. A. Chart Supplement U.S.
    2. B. Sectional Aeronautical Chart
    3. C. VFR Terminal Area Chart
    4. D. IFR Enroute Low Altitude Chart

    Answer: A

    Explanation: The handbook directs study of "the Chart Supplement U.S." and lists "location, elevation, runway and lighting facilities, available services" among its airport information. Sectional, terminal-area and enroute charts are real navigation publications, but they do not provide the requested comprehensive airport-facility entry with services and remarks.

    Reference: Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge—Chapter 16: Navigation — Use of Chart Supplement U.S. (formerly Airport/Facility Directory)