Which term describes the speed at which a wing stalls when the angle of attack is held constant and airspeed is reduced?

• A. Induced drag
• B. Cruise speed
• C. Stall speed
• D. Vortex speed

Answer: (C)

Stall speed tells you the minimum steady flight speed at which the wing can still produce enough lift to balance the airplane’s weight in the current configuration. Lift grows with the lift coefficient, which increases with angle of attack up to a maximum (the critical angle). When you reduce airspeed while holding the configuration, lift falls until you reach the point where the wing can no longer sustain the weight at that angle of attack. That speed, given the weight and configuration, is stall speed. It depends on weight (heavier means higher stall speed), wing area, air density, and the maximum lift coefficient. In a turn or any maneuver that increases the load factor, the required lift goes up, so stall speed increases accordingly.