Lesson plan
Complex airplane
A complex airplane is defined by the United States Federal Aviation Administration as an aircraft that has all of the following: *Retractable landing gear (land aircraft only; a seaplane is not required to have this). *A controllable-pitch propeller (which includes airplanes with constant-speed propellers and airplanes with FADEC which controls both the engine and propeller; turbojet and turbofan airplanes, except very rare mixed-propulsion airplanes, are not considered complex). *Movable or adjustable flaps. The current FAA definitions of "complex airplane" are found in the Airplane Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-3C Chapter 12 and in FAA Order 8900.2C. In the US, students generally train for their first pilot certificate in an aircraft with fixed landing gear and a fixed-pitch propeller. It may or may not be equipped with flaps. Before or after earning the private pilot certificate (PPL) (usually after), a pilot can be trained in complex aircraft operation by a flight instructor. When the pilot has demonstrated proficiency in complex aircraft, the flight instructor endorses the pilot's logbook and the pilot is said to have a "complex endorsement".…
Article summary
A complex airplane is defined by the United States Federal Aviation Administration as an aircraft that has all of the following: *Retractable landing gear (land aircraft only; a seaplane is not required to have this). *A controllable-pitch propeller (which includes airplanes with constant-speed propellers and airplanes with FADEC which controls both the engine and propeller; turbojet and turbofan airplanes, except very rare mixed-propulsion airplanes, are not considered complex). *Movable or adjustable flaps. The current FAA definitions of "complex airplane" are found in the Airplane Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-3C Chapter 12 and in FAA Order 8900.2C. In the US, students generally train for their first pilot certificate in an aircraft with fixed landing gear and a fixed-pitch propeller. It may or may not be equipped with flaps. Before or after earning the private pilot certificate (PPL) (usually after), a pilot can be trained in complex aircraft operation by a flight instructor. When the pilot has demonstrated proficiency in complex aircraft, the flight instructor endorses the pilot's logbook and the pilot is said to have a "complex endorsement".…
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.