FAA Commercial Pilot Airplane (CAX)Aerodynamics and PerformanceEasy
An airplane is equipped with a supercharger. What is the primary benefit of a supercharger for aircraft performance?
- AIt increases the engine's power output at higher altitudes.
- BIt reduces the aircraft's overall weight.
- CIt reduces the fuel consumption at all altitudes.
- DIt allows for a higher maximum permissible airspeed.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. It increases the engine's power output at higher altitudes.
A supercharger is an engine-driven air pump that compresses the air before it enters the engine's cylinders. This increases the air density entering the engine, allowing it to maintain sea-level power output (or even boost it) at higher altitudes where the ambient air density is naturally lower.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Superchargers add weight to the engine, they do not reduce it.
- C. Superchargers generally increase fuel consumption due to more power output and added weight/drag.
- D. While more power may allow for higher speeds, the primary benefit is power maintenance at altitude, not directly increasing Vne.
Supercharger
An engine-driven air compressor that increases the density of the air entering an internal combustion engine, allowing it to maintain or increase power output at higher altitudes where ambient air density is lower.
- Increases manifold pressure (boost).
- Maintains sea-level power to higher altitudes.
- Directly driven by the engine via gears or belts.
- Similar function to a turbocharger, but turbochargers are exhaust-gas driven.
Memory trick: Superchargers are like a power-up button for your engine in thin air.