FAA Private Pilot — Glider (PGL)

What is the minimum age to be eligible for a private pilot certificate with a glider category rating?

• A16 years
• B14 years
• C17 years
• D18 years

A glider's best glide speed corresponds to which point on the glide polar?

• AThe lowest point on the curve
• BThe point of tangency from a line drawn from the origin
• CThe right-most point on the curve
• DThe speed where sink rate equals zero

Which speed allows a glider to remain airborne the longest when descending through still air?

• AManeuvering speed
• BBest L/D speed
• CMinimum sink speed
• DMaximum rough-air speed

During an aerotow, the towplane pilot rocks the wings (rudder waggle/wing rock). What does this signal mean to the glider pilot?

• AYou are too high; lower the glider
• BIncrease speed
• CSomething is wrong; check your glider
• DRelease immediately

The glider pilot rocks the wings during an aerotow while the tow continues. What is this signal telling the towplane pilot?

• ASomething is wrong with the towplane
• BI cannot release; open your spoilers
• CI am about to release
• DIncrease tow speed

A thermal is best described as a source of lift produced by which mechanism?

• AWind deflected upward by terrain
• BRising columns or bubbles of air warmed by uneven surface heating
• CA standing wave downwind of a mountain ridge
• DTwo air masses converging at a boundary

Ridge (slope) lift is produced when wind:

• AIs heated by the sun and rises in columns
• BForms a stationary wave many miles downwind of mountains
• CStrikes a ridge or hill and is forced upward along the slope
• DSinks rapidly on the lee side of terrain

What is the primary purpose of water ballast carried in a high-performance glider?

• ATo lower the stall speed
• BTo reduce wing loading for thermalling
• CTo move the center of gravity aft
• DTo improve the glide ratio at high speeds and increase cross-country average speed

Adverse yaw in a glider causes the nose to initially move:

• AOpposite to the direction of the intended turn
• BIn the same direction as the intended turn
• CStraight down
• DToward the high wing only in a steep turn

Spoilers or dive brakes on a glider are used primarily to:

• AIncrease lift during the landing flare
• BControl the glide path and rate of descent on approach
• CReduce adverse yaw in turns
• DIncrease the best glide ratio

Under 14 CFR 91.155, what is the minimum flight visibility required for a glider operating in Class G airspace at 1,200 feet AGL or less during the day?

• A5 statute miles
• B3 statute miles
• C1 statute mile
• DClear of clouds with no visibility minimum

A premature termination of the launch (PT3) on a winch launch occurs at low altitude. What is the pilot's first priority?

• AAttempt to restart the winch
• BDeploy spoilers fully and hold the climb attitude
• CTurn back toward the launch point
• DImmediately lower the nose to a safe approach attitude and airspeed

What does increasing wing loading (e.g., by adding water ballast) do to a glider's glide polar?

• AShifts the entire polar to higher speeds without changing the best L/D ratio
• BImproves the best L/D ratio significantly
• CLowers all optimum speeds
• DEliminates the minimum sink point

The MacCready setting (speed-to-fly) tells a pilot to fly faster between thermals when:

• ASink between thermals is light
• BThe expected next climb rate is strong
• CThe glider is heavily ballasted only
• DApproaching the landing pattern

A 'box the wake' exercise during aerotow training teaches the glider pilot to:

• ARelease the towrope under tension
• BSignal the towplane to turn
• CMaintain precise position control by flying a rectangular pattern around the towplane's w…
• DRecover from a slack line

Atmospheric instability that favors strong thermal development is indicated by:

• AA shallow temperature lapse rate and an inversion near the surface
• BA stable layer at the surface
• CLight and variable winds with fog
• DA steep (large) environmental temperature lapse rate

During a normal aerotow, where should the glider be positioned relative to the towplane in the 'high tow' position?

• AJust above the towplane's wake with the towplane on or slightly below the horizon
• BDirectly in the propeller wash
• CBelow the towplane's wake
• DFar to the right of the towplane

What pilot action helps prevent a slack rope from developing during aerotow?

• ADiving below the towplane
• BAvoiding rapid descents toward the towplane and using gentle, coordinated corrections
• CReleasing immediately
• DApplying full spoilers

Under 14 CFR 61.69, a person who tows a glider with a powered aircraft must have logged at least how many flights as pilot, sole manipulator of the controls, towing a glider while accompanied by a qualified pilot?

• A3 flights
• B10 flights
• C5 flights
• DNo specific number is required

Mountain wave lift is characterized by:

• ARandom rising bubbles near the surface
• BLift that requires unstable, convective conditions
• CLift only directly over the mountain peak
• DSmooth, strong lift in standing waves downwind of a mountain barrier with strong winds al…

What is the danger zone associated with mountain wave that gliders must avoid below the wave crests?

• AThe rotor
• BThe lenticular cloud
• CThe thermal core
• DThe convergence line

When circling in a thermal, what airspeed should the glider pilot generally fly to maximize the climb?

• AMaximum rough air speed
• BMinimum sink speed, slightly increased for the bank angle used
• CBest L/D speed
• DManeuvering speed

A glider has a glide ratio of 40:1. From 4,000 feet AGL in still air, how far can it glide (ignoring final approach height)?

• AAbout 10 nautical miles
• BAbout 40 nautical miles
• CAbout 26 nautical miles
• DAbout 4 nautical miles

Convergence lift is produced when:

• AAir is heated by the surface
• BA standing wave forms downwind of a mountain
• CWind flows over a single ridge
• DTwo air masses or airflows meet and force air upward along the boundary

What is the most likely consequence of an uncoordinated, skidding turn at low airspeed close to the stall in a glider?

• AA spin entry
• BA gentle descent
• CImproved climb performance
• DReduced sink rate

Per 14 CFR 91.309, the towrope used for towing a glider must have a breaking strength not less than:

• A50% of the maximum certificated operating weight of the glider
• B80% of the maximum certificated operating weight of the glider
• C100% of the gross weight of the towplane
• DTwice the empty weight of the glider

If the towrope breaks at 200 feet AGL shortly after takeoff with insufficient runway remaining ahead, the safest general action is to:

• AAlways turn back to the departure runway
• BClimb to gain altitude before deciding
• CLand straight ahead or make a shallow turn to a safe landing area
• DDeploy full spoilers and stall the glider onto the ground

Moving the center of gravity of a glider aft (within or beyond limits) generally results in:

• AIncreased longitudinal stability and higher stall speed
• BReduced elevator authority on landing
• CNo effect on handling
• DDecreased longitudinal stability and a tendency toward more sensitive pitch control

Before a winch or auto launch, the pilot should confirm that the weak link (safety link) at the glider end:

• AMatches the glider manufacturer's specified strength rating
• BIs the strongest available to prevent any break
• CIs not required for ground launches
• DShould be twice the glider's gross weight

Cumulus clouds with flat, dark bases and crisp outlines are useful to a glider pilot because they often mark:

• AAreas of guaranteed sink
• BThe top of a thermal where lift may be found upwind/below the cloud
• CStable, cloud-free air
• DThe location of mountain wave

What is the recommended technique for recovering from a slack rope during aerotow?

• ARelease immediately to avoid the snatch
• BDive sharply toward the towplane
• CYaw the glider slightly and apply gentle spoiler or move to the side to slow the rate of…
• DPull back hard to climb away from the towplane

A glider pilot planning a cross-country flight should select a glide ratio for planning that is:

• AThe book maximum L/D in still air
• BTwice the published value to be safe
• CThe minimum sink performance
• DReduced (more conservative) to account for sink, wind, and maneuvering

Hypoxia is a particular concern in high-altitude wave soaring. Per 14 CFR 91.211, supplemental oxygen must be used by the required minimum flight crew when flying above what cabin altitude for more than 30 minutes?

• A12,500 feet MSL
• B10,000 feet MSL
• C14,000 feet MSL
• D18,000 feet MSL

What is the primary aeromedical risk to a glider pilot conducting long flights in a hot, enclosed canopy?

• ASpatial disorientation
• BDehydration and heat stress
• CCarbon monoxide poisoning
• DDecompression sickness

When two aircraft of different categories are converging at approximately the same altitude, 14 CFR 91.113 gives the right-of-way in which order (most to least)?

• AAirplane, glider, balloon
• BGlider, airplane, balloon
• CBalloon, glider, airplane
• DAirplane, balloon, glider

A pilot circling in a thermal notices the variometer reading decreasing on one side of the turn. The best technique to center the thermal is to:

• ATighten the turn equally on all sides
• BIncrease airspeed to escape the thermal
• CReverse the turn each circle
• DOpen out the turn (straighten momentarily) toward the area of stronger lift, then re-esta…

Which document indicates the maximum gross weight and CG limits a specific glider must be operated within?

• AThe glider's flight manual / type certificate data sheet
• BThe pilot's logbook
• CThe aeronautical sectional chart
• DThe towplane's POH

On a winch launch, the glider experiences its steepest climb angle:

• AImmediately after the wheels leave the ground
• BDuring the middle of the launch after a safe airspeed and altitude are established
• CJust before release at the top
• DAt the very end during rope back-release

What soaring forecast product helps a glider pilot estimate the strength of thermals and the height of the convective boundary layer?

• AMETAR only
• BAn AIRMET Zulu
• CA thermal/soaring forecast or skew-T diagram analysis
• DA NOTAM

If a glider must make an off-field (land-out) landing, the first priority when selecting a field is:

• AChoosing the field closest to a road
• BSelecting any green field regardless of slope
• CLanding downwind to save altitude
• DSelecting a field large enough and obstacle-free, then planning the approach into wind

A glider's stall speed will be highest in which condition?

• AHeavy water ballast and a steep banked turn
• BLight wing loading, wings level
• CMinimum gross weight in straight flight
• DEmpty ballast tanks at minimum sink speed

Per 14 CFR 61.31 and standard practice, before acting as PIC of a glider a private pilot must:

• AHave a current third-class medical certificate
• BMeet the recency-of-experience and any required category/class rating; no FAA medical cer…
• CHold an instrument rating
• DCarry a logbook in the glider at all times

The 'speed-to-fly' principle says that when flying through sinking air between thermals, the pilot should:

• ASlow down to minimum sink
• BMaintain best L/D regardless of conditions
• CSpeed up to spend less time in the sink and minimize altitude loss
• DCircle until the sink stops

What is the purpose of a positive control check (PCC) before flight in a glider?

• ATo verify the variometer is calibrated
• BTo set the altimeter
• CTo check the towrope strength
• DTo have an assistant hold a control surface while the pilot confirms correct, free, and p…

Lenticular (lens-shaped) clouds are a visual indicator of:

• AMountain wave activity
• BActive thermals
• CA sea-breeze front
• DSurface fog

After releasing from the towrope at altitude, the glider pilot should:

• ATurn left while the towplane turns left
• BTurn right and the towplane turns left to ensure clear separation
• CDescend immediately
• DMaintain heading directly behind the towplane

Why does a glider's sink rate increase in a banked turn compared to straight flight at the same airspeed?

• ADrag is unaffected by bank
• BThe wings produce less lift in a turn
• CThe load factor increases, requiring a higher effective lift and thus more induced drag
• DThe polar curve does not change with bank angle

A glider pilot planning a 50 km cross-country task should first review which factor that most directly affects whether the task is achievable?

• AThe color of the glider
• BThe towplane registration number
• CThe pilot's logbook total time
• DForecast thermal strength, cloud base height, and wind