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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/drone-stall-critical-angle-of-attack

What actually causes a wing to stall?

Exceeding its critical angle of attack, so smooth airflow breaks away.

  1. Flying faster than its maximum speed
  2. Carrying more than its maximum weight
  3. Exceeding its critical angle of attack ✔

Why: When the wing meets the air at too steep an angle, the smooth flow over the top separates and lift drops suddenly. It's about angle, not just speed.

Huh, didn't know that: Any aircraft, within the limits of its structure, can be stalled at any airspeed.

The dad joke
Why did the wing refuse to look up any further? It had reached a critical angle.
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Sources

  1. FAA Remote Pilot Study Guide (FAA-G-8082-22), Ch. 4 https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/remote_pilot_study_guide.pdf

Test yourself in the game

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That's stuff everyone should know.