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Key Facts: CPL Aerodynamics Exam

100

Practice Questions

OpenExamPrep

40

Official Questions

CASA

70%

Pass Mark

CASA

1.5 hrs

Time Limit

CASA

The CASA CPL(A) Aerodynamics (CADA) exam is one of the seven required subjects for an Australian commercial pilot licence. A 1.5-hour test with a 70% passing score, it covers flight forces, lift/drag curves, design geometry, and stall recovery. This prep provides 100 practice questions.

Sample CPL Aerodynamics Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the CPL Aerodynamics exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What is the primary definition of parasite drag?
A.Drag due to wingtip vortices
B.Drag from skin friction, form, and interference
C.Drag that decreases as speed increases
D.Drag caused by lift generation
Explanation: Parasite drag consists of skin friction, form drag, and interference drag. It is not related to lift production and increases with the square of the airspeed.
2What is the primary definition of induced drag?
A.Drag that increases with the square of airspeed
B.Drag caused by fuselage and wing junction air flow
C.Drag created as a byproduct of lift generation
D.Drag caused by aircraft surface roughness
Explanation: Induced drag is a direct byproduct of lift generation, caused by downwash and wingtip vortices changing the local relative airflow. Other drag types represent parasite drag.
3As airspeed increases, what happens to parasite drag?
A.It remains constant
B.It increases linearly with speed
C.It increases with the square of the speed
D.It decreases proportionally
Explanation: Parasite drag increases with the square of the velocity (V^2). If velocity doubles, parasite drag quadruples. Other options misidentify this relationship.
4As airspeed increases in level flight, what happens to induced drag?
A.It remains constant
B.It increases linearly
C.It decreases
D.It increases with the square of speed
Explanation: Induced drag decreases as speed increases in level flight because a lower angle of attack is required to generate the lift needed to balance weight, reducing the lift-induced downwash angle. Other options are incorrect.
5How is the angle of attack (AoA) defined?
A.The angle between the chord line and relative airflow
B.The angle between the wing span and horizontal plane
C.The angle between the flight path and local horizon
D.The angle between the chord line and longitudinal axis
Explanation: Angle of attack is the angle between the chord line of the wing and the direction of the relative airflow. Other options define angle of incidence, dihedral, or pitch angle.
6When a wing generates lift, the static pressure on its upper surface is:
A.Higher than atmospheric pressure
B.Directly proportional to the angle of incidence
C.Lower than atmospheric pressure
D.Equal to atmospheric pressure
Explanation: Bernoulli's principle states that faster moving air over the curved upper wing surface results in a drop in static pressure. This lower pressure creates the lift force. Other options are incorrect.
7Through which point does the total lift force act?
A.Neutral point
B.Center of pressure
C.Center of gravity
D.Datum line
Explanation: The center of pressure (CP) is the point along the chord line where the total sum of aerodynamic pressure fields acts. The center of gravity is where weight acts, and the neutral point relates to stability.
8What does the L/D max speed represent?
A.Speed for maximum range in a jet and maximum endurance in a piston
B.Speed for maximum structural limit
C.Maximum stalling speed
D.Speed for minimum total drag and maximum glide range
Explanation: The speed where the ratio of lift to drag is maximized (L/D max) is the speed of minimum total drag. It yields the maximum glide range and best lift-to-drag performance.
9If airspeed is halved in straight and level flight, how does parasite drag change?
A.It is halved
B.It doubles
C.It reduces to one-quarter of its original value
D.It remains unchanged
Explanation: Parasite drag is proportional to velocity squared. Halving the speed (0.5) results in drag changing by (0.5)^2, which is one-quarter of the original drag value. Other options are mathematically incorrect.
10If velocity is doubled in straight and level flight, what happens to induced drag?
A.It is halved
B.It reduces to one-quarter of its original value
C.It doubles
D.It quadruples
Explanation: In level flight, induced drag is inversely proportional to velocity squared (1/V^2) because lift coefficient must be reduced by 4 times. Doubling speed reduces induced drag to one-quarter.

About the CPL Aerodynamics Exam

The CASA CPL(A) Aerodynamics Exam (CADA) is one of the seven theory exams required for a Commercial Pilot Licence in Australia. It covers lift, drag, thrust, and gravity; lift-enhancing devices (flaps, slats); stability and control; manoeuvring flight (turns, climbs, descents); wing design features (dihedral, sweepback, wash-out); stalls, spins, and ground effect.

Exam sponsor: CASA / ASPEQ Exam Delivery. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Closed-book computer-based exam administered at approved ASPEQ centers. Candidates are permitted to use a basic calculator.

Time Limit

1.5 hours

Passing Score

70%

Exam / Certification Fees

$175.69 AUD (comprising $65 CASA fee and $110.69 Aspeq invigilation fee)

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

25%

Aerodynamic Forces & L/D

Lift equation, drag components (induced vs parasite), lift-to-drag ratio (L/D max), thrust/power curves

20%

Stability & Control

Static and dynamic stability, longitudinal, lateral, and directional stability, control surface effects, and trim

20%

Wing Design & Geometry

Aspect ratio, wing loading, sweepback, dihedral, anhedral, wash-out, and planforms

15%

Manoeuvring Flight

Climbs, descents, gliding performance, load factors in turns, and structural limits (V-g diagram)

10%

Stalls & Spins

Boundary layer control, stall progression, spin mechanics, autorotation, and recovery techniques

10%

Ground Effect & Takeoff/Landing

Aerodynamic changes in ground effect, takeoff/landing forces, and wind shear effects

Preparing for the CPL Aerodynamics Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70%
  • Assessment: Closed-book computer-based exam administered at approved ASPEQ centers. Candidates are permitted to use a basic calculator.
  • Time limit: 1.5 hours
  • Exam / certification fees: $175.69 AUD (comprising $65 CASA fee and $110.69 Aspeq invigilation fee) Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CPL Aerodynamics: Suggested Study Strategy

1Master load factor calculations — understand that load factor in a level turn is 1/cos(bank angle). A 60-degree turn results in a load factor of 2G
2Differentiate between induced drag (which decreases with speed) and parasite drag (which increases with the square of speed)
3Understand the aerodynamic effects of CG placement: a forward CG increases stability but also increases stall speed and fuel burn due to tail downforce requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the passing score for the CADA exam?

The passing score is 70%.

How long is the CADA exam credit valid?

All 7 CPL theory exams must be passed within a rolling 2-year window. Once all 7 are passed, the CPL theory credit is valid indefinitely.