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

What aspect of flight does the term "angle of attack" refer to?

1. The relationship between the aircraft's weight and lift

2. The angle between the wing and the oncoming air

3. The angle used for navigational purposes

4. The slope at which an aircraft descends

The correct answer is: The angle between the wing and the oncoming air

The term "angle of attack" specifically refers to the angle between the wing and the oncoming air. This angle is crucial for the generation of lift; as the angle increases, the lift produced by the wing also increases up to a certain point. Beyond that point, known as the critical angle of attack, the airflow can separate from the wing, leading to a stall condition. Understanding this concept is vital for pilots as it directly affects the performance of the aircraft during various phases of flight, such as takeoff, cruising, and landing. The other choices, while related to flight in some capacity, do not accurately describe the angle of attack. For instance, the relation between weight and lift pertains to overall aircraft performance rather than a specific geometric measurement, navigational angles involve flight paths rather than aerodynamic characteristics, and descent slope relates to the vertical profile of an aircraft's approach, none of which capture the essential definition of angle of attack.