What does the syllabus require me to know about how it flies?

Know what TP 15263 Section 7 asks a candidate to be able to do about lift, stability, control surfaces and multi-rotor dynamics — the physics behind the controls on the station.

• You know that the examinations are built on TP 15263, so its sections are the syllabus. TP15263 area7
• You know that all of Section 7 is basic and advanced work. TP15263 area7

The first objective is the whole subject in five words: describe how lift is produced. TP15263 area7

The aerofoil category narrows it to control: explain how lift is controlled — the same question the syllabus asks about a helicopter's rotor in its own category. TP15263 area7

Forces acting on an aircraft is the one with a number in it: identify the four forces acting on an aircraft in flight, and describe how they are balanced during manoeuvres and in steady flight. TP15263 area7

Aircraft parts asks for the function of the vertical fin and for the basic lifting and stabilizing components to be identified — fixed-wing parts, in the wording of the topic list. TP15263 area7

Stability asks one question: how the centre of gravity affects longitudinal stability. TP15263 area7

Load factor is the category with a consequence attached: what can affect the load factor, and the fact that increasing the load factor requires increased lift, and therefore increased drag. TP15263 area7

The wing's design affects performance, and the condition of the propeller or rotor affects performance — a maintenance question as much as an aerodynamic one, and the one an owner is most likely to meet in practice. TP15263 area7

Aeroplane flight controls ask for the function of the different control surfaces and for the function of trim, plus the axes and planes of movement. TP15263 area7

Helicopter flight controls ask how lift is created with a rotary wing, powered and in autorotation, how it is controlled, and what the tail rotor and counter-rotating rotors do, with the cyclic named in the topic list. TP15263 area7

Multi-rotor dynamics is the category that matches most of what this app's readers fly: how yaw, pitch, roll and climb are achieved, how to avoid dynamic rollover in a crosswind, typical autopilot modes (manual, attitude, GPS position hold), and how asymmetric recirculation can upset lateral control. TP15263 area7

You are ready for Section 7 questions when you can:

• Describe how lift is produced, and how it is controlled TP15263 area7
• Name the four forces, and say how they balance in steady flight and in manoeuvres TP15263 area7
• State the function of the vertical fin, and identify the lifting and stabilizing components TP15263 area7
• Explain the centre of gravity's effect on longitudinal stability TP15263 area7
• Explain what affects load factor, and why more load factor means more drag TP15263 area7
• Say how wing design and propeller or rotor condition affect performance TP15263 area7
• Describe the control surfaces and trim, and the axes of movement TP15263 area7
• Describe rotary-wing lift, autorotation, and the tail rotor's function TP15263 area7
• Explain yaw, pitch, roll and climb in a multi-rotor, and how to avoid dynamic rollover TP15263 area7

Symptom	Likely cause	What to do
A question asks how many forces act in flight	The objective names the number explicitly	Four, and be able to balance them TP15263 area7
Load factor is treated as a structural limit only	The objective links it to lift and drag	Follow the consequence through TP15263 area7
A topic such as "variation" has no objective beside it	Objectives are printed once per category	Read the category's list TP15263 area7
Multi-rotor behaviour is assumed to be the same as a fixed wing	The section gives multi-rotor dynamics its own category	Learn the modes and the recirculation hazard TP15263 area7

Practise: Bernoulli's principle Practise: Fixed wing Practise: Lift  Practise: Longitudinal, lateral, directional stability Practise: Relative airflow and angle of attack Practise: Aeroplane axes and planes of movement Practise: Cyclic Practise: Principles of flight and torque Practise: Load factor  turns

• TP 15263E, Section 7 — Theory of flight (the sample learning objectives table)