Why does an FBW system use a smaller tail area?

Aeronautical & Aerospace Engineering : Avionics - Quiz(MCQ)

To reduce weight and drag but at a cost of natural stability

Bigger tails are harder to move as they produce larger wing loads

Actively controls the tail thus making up for the reduced stability due to lesser area

Tail does not contribute much to stability and its area can thus be reduced effectively

Correct Answer : To reduce weight and drag but at a cost of natural stability

Explanation : The reason for using reduced tail area is to reduce weight, drag and to increase overall performance, But at a cost of reduced natural stability. A FBW makes up for the reduced stability by actively controlling the tailplane and rudder using accurate motion feedback sensors and actuators.

Recently Updated in Avionics Questions

Which one of the following is false with respect to fiber optic cables?

Costly

High speed

Less EM interference

Heavy compared to normal wires

Correct Answer : Option (D) : Heavy compared to normal wires

Explanation : Fiber optics weigh comparatively very low than normal wires. Wires require shielding from EMI which also adds up to the overall weight of the connectivity system. They also offer high speed data transfer and are relatively costly.

What type of multiplexing is used in optical fiber lines?

Time division multiplexing

wavelength division multiplexing

Code division multiplexing

Frequency division multiplexing

Correct Answer : Option (B) : wavelength division multiplexing

Explanation : Fibre optic data transmission use ‘wavelength division’ multiplexing whereby a single fibre can be used to transmit several channels of information as coded light pulses of different wavelengths (or colours) simultaneously. The individual data channels are then recovered from the optically mixed data by passing the light signal through wavelength selective passive optical filters which are tuned to the respective wavelengths. WDM has a very high integrity as the multiplexed channels are effectively optically isolated.

Where was the first Fly-By-Light system used?

Spacecrafts

Airships

Fighter aircraft

Bomber Aircraft

Correct Answer : Option (B) : Airships

Explanation : Non-rigid airships may be acquiring a new lease of life as long duration platforms for airborne radar surveillance systems. The airship is able to carry a large high power radar antenna within its envelope and is able to remain airborne for several days. Since the antenna could severely interfere with FBW systems FBL system was used.