Test Q's

In article , jsmith wrote:
There is a movie documenting Richard Bach's late-70's barnstorming trip
around the country with a pair of Fleet biplanes (same name as the book,
but I cannot remember what the title is). In one segment, he attaches

The book is "Nothing by Chance" (written in 1969). I see an IMDB
reference (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0345722/), but I can't find any
other references to the movie. I'd very much like to see that -
you wouldn't happen to have it on VHS/DVD, would you?

Tina Marie

And I would read that as "both wings are stalled"... It's a very poorly
written question or very well written (depending on your point-of-view).

Whether it's well written or poorly written depends not so much on
point of view as context.

If the context is a discussion, it's a very well written question.
It's well written because there is no clear right or wrong answer, and
there is something to discuss, and so it has been discussed. The
discussion is a good one - it goes beyond the simplifications and
misconceptions. It makes clear that a stalled wing still produces some
lift. It brings in the issue of lift curves, and explains what it
means for both wings to be stalled, and yet for one to be more stalled
than the other, and to regain and produce some lift. It's an excellent
learning question. Within the context of a test that is taken and then
reviewed and discussed, it is very appropriate - everyone will learn
something from the review and discussion.

It's a terrible testing question within the testing context used by the
FAA. You take an FAA test, and then you're not even told which
questions you got wrong, only the subject areas. There is no
discussion and review. Thus none of the question's benefits are
realized within the context of the testing method used. Also, since
none of the answers are really right, and yet none are really wrong,
there is no real way to get the question consistently right by knowing
the material, no matter how well you know the material. The only way
to get it consistently right is to have seen it before - and seen the
answer.

Michael

ASA's Test Prep and "Stick and Rudder" say that Answer A is correct. Dunno
what Gleim says. Kershner says that both wings are stalled, but further on
in the discussion he talks about "unequal lift." Hard to find an unequivocal
answer.

Bob Gardner

wrote in message
...
Choose one, please.

18. H540 CFI
Which statement is true concerning the aerodynamic
conditions which occur during a spin entry?
A) After a full stall, both wings remain in a stalled
condition throughout the rotation.
B) After a partial stall, the wing that drops remains in a
stalled condition while the rising wing regains and
continues to produce lift, causing the rotation.
C) After a full stall, the wing that drops continues in a
stalled condition while the rising wing regains and
continues to produce some lift, causing the rotation.