FAA Commercial Pilot Airplane (CAX)Aerodynamics and PerformanceEasy
Regardless of airspeed, weight, bank angle, or flight attitude, an airplane's wing always stalls at the same:
- Aindicated airspeed
- Bcritical angle of attack
- Cload factor
- Dtrue airspeed
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. critical angle of attack
A wing stalls when it exceeds its critical angle of attack, which is a fixed aerodynamic characteristic of the airfoil. Airspeed, weight, and load factor all vary the specific speed at which the critical AOA is reached, but the AOA itself is constant for a given airfoil and configuration.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Indicated stall speed varies with weight, bank angle, and load factor.
- C. Load factor at stall varies depending on the maneuver being performed.
- D. True airspeed at stall varies with altitude and weight.
Critical Angle of Attack
The angle of attack at which airflow separates from the wing's upper surface, causing a stall; it is a fixed value for a given airfoil and configuration.
- Stall always occurs at the same critical AOA
- Independent of airspeed or attitude
- Varies only with flap/configuration changes
Memory trick: Angle, not airspeed, is the stall's true master.