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