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FAA Commercial Pilot Glider Knowledge Test Practice Test

The FAA Commercial Pilot Glider Knowledge Test (CGX) concerns aeronautical knowledge applied to glider flight. Practice-bank questions sample aircraft airworthiness, assembly checks, performance and stall behavior, soaring instruments, landing judgment, and ground handling. These subjects connect glider design and atmospheric conditions with decisions made before, during, and after flight.

Exam overview

Exam providerFederal Aviation Administration
Exam codeCGX
CategoryAviation

About the FAA Commercial Pilot Glider Knowledge Test Exam

Glider pilots must assess energy and performance without an engine, interpret variometer indications, and account for changing lift and air density. Handling knowledge includes how bank angle affects stall speed, how approved ballast changes aircraft loading, and what maneuvering speed means for control inputs. Operational judgment also matters: pilots evaluate landing approaches using multiple visual cues, manage wheel braking when appropriate, and secure a parked glider against gusts. Preflight tasks can include confirming airworthiness documentation and completing a positive control check after assembly. These concepts support practical decisions about aircraft condition, flight handling, landing safety, and protection of the glider on the ground.

Sample Practice Questions

Review a selection from this exam's published US Practice Tests practice bank.

Question 1

What is the primary purpose of an aircraft’s airworthiness certificate?

  1. ATo document that the aircraft has been certificated as airworthy in its applicable category, subject to continued compliance and condition
  2. BTo prove that the aircraft has completed every required inspection for all future flights
  3. CTo authorize any pilot to fly the aircraft without meeting qualification requirements
  4. DTo establish the aircraft’s current center of gravity for each flight
Show answerCorrect answer: A

An airworthiness certificate documents the aircraft’s certification status, but it does not by itself guarantee that the aircraft remains airworthy indefinitely. Continued airworthiness depends on maintenance, inspections, records, and the aircraft’s actual condition.

Question 2

Why should a glider pilot avoid relying on a single visual estimate of distance to an obstacle during landing?

  1. APerspective and changing descent geometry can make distance and clearance difficult to judge accurately
  2. BObstacles always appear farther away when viewed from a glider
  3. CA glider’s altimeter directly measures horizontal distance to obstacles
  4. DVisual estimates are accurate only when the glider is stationary
Show answerCorrect answer: A

Visual perspective can be misleading, especially while the aircraft is moving and descending. Pilots should plan an appropriate approach and use multiple cues, rather than depending on one uncertain distance estimate to ensure obstacle clearance.

Question 3

What is the primary purpose of a glider’s ballast, when approved ballast is installed?

  1. ATo increase the aircraft’s weight within limits and alter its performance characteristics
  2. BTo reduce the glider’s wing area during high-speed flight
  3. CTo shift the center of gravity outside its approved range
  4. DTo eliminate the need to use the published speed schedule
Show answerCorrect answer: A

Approved ballast increases glider weight while remaining within aircraft limitations. This affects performance, including the speeds associated with particular lift and drag conditions; loading and limits must be checked in the aircraft documentation.

Question 4

At a given weight and configuration, how does increasing bank angle in a coordinated level turn affect the glider’s stall speed?

  1. AIt decreases because the turn reduces the wing’s angle of attack.
  2. BIt remains unchanged because indicated airspeed is independent of load factor.
  3. CIt increases because the wing must produce more lift to support the increased load factor.
  4. DIt increases only if the glider is descending.
Show answerCorrect answer: C

In a coordinated level turn, load factor rises as bank angle increases. The wing must produce more lift, so it reaches its maximum lift coefficient at a higher airspeed and the stall speed increases.

Question 5

What is the main operational advantage of using a glider’s wheel brake after touchdown, when equipped and appropriate?

  1. AIt helps reduce ground-roll distance and control the glider’s movement on the landing surface
  2. BIt increases lift during the flare
  3. CIt prevents the glider from weathercocking before landing
  4. DIt replaces the need to align with the landing path
Show answerCorrect answer: A

A wheel brake can help slow the glider after touchdown and manage its rollout. It does not replace a suitable landing approach, directional control, or the manufacturer’s recommended braking technique.

Question 6

What is the primary purpose of a glider’s variometer?

  1. ATo show the glider’s rate of climb or descent through the air.
  2. BTo measure the glider’s distance from the nearest airport.
  3. CTo indicate the direction of the relative wind during a slip.
  4. DTo display the remaining usable launch-rope length.
Show answerCorrect answer: A

A variometer indicates vertical speed, helping the pilot identify and assess rising or sinking air. It does not measure distance to an airport or rope length.

Question 7

When a glider is parked outdoors in gusty conditions, what is a sound general practice to reduce the risk of wind damage?

  1. ALeave the controls free so they can move with the wind
  2. BSecure the glider according to its operating guidance and use suitable tie-downs or restraints
  3. CPoint the tail directly into the strongest gusts and leave the canopy open
  4. DPlace weight only on the wingtip that faces the wind
Show answerCorrect answer: B

Properly securing and restraining a parked glider helps prevent it from moving or being damaged by wind. Follow the aircraft’s approved procedures and use appropriate equipment.

How to use this practice test

The free practice session draws up to 20 random questions from the 50-question CGX bank. Use the questions to check recall of glider performance, equipment, and handling concepts; results appear after the session so you can identify which subjects need another pass.

Preparation tips

  • Explain how increasing bank angle in a coordinated level turn changes stall speed, and connect the effect to load factor.
  • Review how ballast affects loading and performance, and distinguish approved ballast use from an arbitrary weight change.
  • Practice interpreting variometer indications in relation to climb, descent, and the glider’s movement through rising or sinking air.
  • For landing scenarios, compare several visual cues to judge obstacle clearance and approach path rather than relying on one distance estimate.
  • Review assembly and ground procedures, including a positive control check when applicable and securing the glider in gusty conditions.
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