Private Pilot Private Exam

An airplane that is inherently stable will...

1. Be harder to control

2. Require more effort to maintain a straight flight

3. Require less effort to control

4. Be more susceptible to turbulence

The correct answer is: Require less effort to control

An inherently stable airplane is designed with characteristics that naturally return it to a state of equilibrium after a disturbance. This means that if the aircraft is pushed off its intended flight path due to external factors like wind or turbulence, it will tend to return to its original position without requiring significant pilot input. When an airplane is stable, the pilot can maintain straight and level flight with less ongoing effort because the aircraft automatically corrects for minor deviations. This results in a more user-friendly experience for pilots, particularly for those who are relatively inexperienced, as they won't need to constantly adjust their controls to maintain stable flight. In contrast, an inherently unstable aircraft would require more frequent and pronounced control inputs to keep it on course, making it more difficult to handle. Thus, the characteristics of inherent stability in an aircraft promote ease of control and enhance the pilot's ability to manage the flight effectively.