| Angle of Attack and Stalls Everything that an airplane | | | | Stalling the wing is what destroys lift not shutting off |
| does in flight depends on the angle with which the | | | | the engine power. Stall Warning Devices All modern |
| leading edge of the wing meets the oncoming stream | | | | airplanes have some sort of device to warn the pilot |
| of air. This is also called the angle of attack. If you go | | | | of an impending stall. The first is the aerodynamic |
| too slowly while pulling the nose higher to try to | | | | warning that occurs when the entire airplane buffets, |
| maintain flight, the wing will stall. A wing can be stalled | | | | which is usually accompanied by the control wheel |
| at any speed, including the airplane's top speed. To | | | | shaking in the pilot's hands. Almost all airplanes have |
| accomplish a stall, all you have to do is to simply | | | | also an additional warning that is visual or aural. There |
| increase the angle of attack past its critical point, | | | | is a sensor on the leading edge of the wing usually in |
| normally between 16º and 18º in a light | | | | the form of a little metal tab mounted upward, which |
| airplane. Gliders have no engine but they still are able | | | | moves and activates an electrical switch. This in turn, |
| to fly. Their wings produce lift as a glider moves in | | | | activates a horn in the cockpit or turns on a bright |
| the air just as the wings of a powered airplane do. | | | | red warning light. |