Book 23, Question 8
What Is a Stall, and How Do Pilots Handle It?
A stall sounds scary. But it has nothing to do with the engine stopping. Pilots know exactly what to do! Birds also stall when they land, and they use it to slow down.
More fun facts
- A stall happens when the air stops flowing smoothly over the top of the wing.
- A plane always stalls at the same angle of attack, but it can stall at any speed.
- Each plane has its own stall angle.
- Some planes have a stick shaker that shakes the controls to warn pilots before a stall.
- The stick shaker starts when the plane is flying just 5 to 7 percent faster than its stall speed.
- Some wing shapes stall near the body first, which gives the pilot a better warning.
Sources: faa.gov
Questions kids ask
Is a plane stall the same as a car engine stalling?
No. A plane stall is about air flowing over the wing, not the engine stopping.