Free Flight Instructor Sport Weight-Shift-Control Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

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

1. 1A sport pilot plans a daytime weight-shift-control flight over terrain at 9,500 feet MSL. Under the sport pilot altitude limitation, what is the highest permitted flight altitude over that terrain?

   1. A. 10,000 feet MSL
   2. B. 11,500 feet MSL
   3. C. 12,500 feet MSL
   4. D. 13,500 feet MSL

   Answer: B

   Explanation: Section 61.315(c)(11) prohibits flight "At an altitude of more than 10,000 feet MSL or 2,000 feet AGL, whichever is higher." Here 9,500 + 2,000 = 11,500 feet MSL, which is the higher limit.

   Reference: 14 CFR Part 61 — Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors — § 61.315(c)(11)

2. 2Following a weight-shift-control landing accident, an occupant has a simple fracture of the forearm and no other injury. How is that fracture classified under the NTSB serious-injury definition?

   1. A. It is a serious injury under the fracture criterion.
   2. B. It is a minor injury under the fracture exception.
   3. C. It is an injury requiring hospitalization to qualify.
   4. D. It is an injury requiring internal-organ damage to qualify.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Section 830.2 defines serious injury to include one that "results in a fracture of any bone (except simple fractures of fingers, toes, or nose)". The forearm is not among the exceptions, and no additional hospitalization or organ injury is needed.

   Reference: 49 CFR Part 830 — Notification and Reporting of Aircraft Accidents or Incidents — § 830.2, Serious injury, item (2)

3. 3A weight-shift-control pilot makes the first call to a ground controller while on the south ramp. Which sequence follows the AIM initial-contact format?

   1. A. Aircraft identification; facility name; request; surface position
   2. B. Surface position; request; facility name; aircraft identification
   3. C. Facility name; full aircraft identification; surface position; request
   4. D. Request; surface position; full aircraft identification; facility name

   Answer: C

   Explanation: AIM 4-2-3 begins with "Name of the facility being called;" and then "Your full aircraft identification". It next specifies the surface position and the short request. This order identifies both the recipient and caller before stating the request.

   Reference: Aeronautical Information Manual — Radio Communications Phraseology and Techniques — 4-2-3, Initial Contact

4. 4On a clear morning, surface winds are nearly calm while winds from 300 to 3,000 feet are about 30 knots. Where is the wind shear associated with the difference between these two wind regimes concentrated?

   1. A. In the transition between calm surface air and stronger winds aloft
   2. B. Within the middle of the reported strong-wind layer aloft
   3. C. Within the middle of the calm near-surface layer below
   4. D. Above the upper boundary of the reported strong-wind layer

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The WSC handbook explains, "The wind sheer area in between the high winds above and calm winds below is usually turbulent". A calm windsock does not establish calm conditions through the climb, especially as morning mixing develops.

   Reference: Weight-Shift Control Aircraft Flying Handbook — p. 5-4, Local Conditions and Figure 5-5

5. 5During dual WSC training, the student offers the flight controls back to the instructor. Under the recommended positive-transfer procedure, when should the student release control?

   1. A. When the student has announced the offer to transfer control
   2. B. When the instructor has confirmed having the flight controls
   3. C. When the instructor has begun reaching toward the control bar
   4. D. When the student has visually checked the next flight attitude

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The handbook requires the student to remain on the controls until the instructor acknowledges, "I have the flight controls." An offer, reaching movement, or attitude check does not replace that explicit acceptance of control.

   Reference: Weight-Shift Control Aircraft Flying Handbook — p. 1-10, Positive Transfer of Controls

6. 6To determine pressure altitude on the ground for a WSC takeoff-performance calculation, what barometric setting should the pilot temporarily place in the altimeter?

   1. A. 28.92 inches Hg
   2. B. 29.42 inches Hg
   3. C. 29.92 inches Hg
   4. D. 30.42 inches Hg

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The FAA describes the method as "By setting the barometric scale of the altimeter to 29.92" and reading the indicated altitude. The setting is in inches Hg. This temporary performance-calculation setting must subsequently be replaced with the appropriate operating altimeter setting.

   Reference: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge — Chapter 11: Aircraft Performance — p. 11-3, Pressure Altitude, method 1

7. 7A WSC loading sheet lists basic empty weight 550 lb, pilot 180 lb, passenger 140 lb, usable fuel 72 lb, and baggage 10 lb. All oil and unusable fuel are already included in basic empty weight. What is the loaded weight?

   1. A. 880 lb
   2. B. 916 lb
   3. C. 952 lb
   4. D. 1,024 lb

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The FAA describes "determining the weight of the empty aircraft and adding the weight of everything loaded on the aircraft". The total is 550 + 180 + 140 + 72 + 10 = 952 lb. The other results omit fuel, use half the fuel weight, or count the fuel twice.

   Reference: Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge — Chapter 10: Weight and Balance — p. 10-5, Principles of Weight and Balance Computations

8. 8An instructor explains why a WSC wing root can stall above the published straight-and-level stall speed. Which aerodynamic angle has the critical value that directly controls this stall?

   1. A. Angle of attack
   2. B. Angle of incidence
   3. C. Sweep angle
   4. D. Anhedral angle

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The WSC handbook states, "This is caused when the wing root exceeds its critical angle of attack. This can occur at any airspeed in any attitude with any power setting." An indicated-speed value alone does not rule out a stall.

   Reference: Weight-Shift Control Aircraft Flying Handbook — p. 6-21, Stalls

9. 9A WSC pilot feels pressure to depart because friends are waiting and a nonrefundable reservation will be lost. Which PAVE category captures this source of risk?

   1. A. Pilot
   2. B. Aircraft
   3. C. Environment
   4. D. External pressures

   Answer: D

   Explanation: The WSC handbook lists "External pressures: schedules, available alternatives, purpose of flight". The reservation and waiting friends create schedule and purpose pressures rather than aircraft or weather deficiencies.

   Reference: Weight-Shift Control Aircraft Flying Handbook — p. 5-1, preflight PAVE evaluation

10. 10Before a WSC flight, a pilot reads the runway-length number beside an airport on a sectional. What runway length does that airport data number represent?

    1. A. The longest active runway, including displaced thresholds but excluding overruns
    2. B. The shortest active runway, including displaced thresholds but excluding overruns
    3. C. The longest active runway, excluding displaced thresholds but including overruns
    4. D. The shortest active runway, excluding displaced thresholds but including overruns

    Answer: A

    Explanation: The chart guide states, "Runway length is the length of the longest active runway, including displaced thresholds and excluding overruns." The charted number is therefore not automatically the landing distance available for the intended runway direction.

    Reference: FAA Aeronautical Chart Users’ Guide — p. 15, Airports, runway length