Angle of attack and the stall
The wing's real limit is an angle, not a speed
Definition
Angle of attack (AOA) is the angle between the wing's chord line and the relative wind — the air the wing actually meets. It is not the airplane's pitch.
Explanation
Push past the critical angle and the smooth airflow separates from the top of the wing — that separation is the stall.
Why it matters
The wing stalls at its critical angle of attack — about 15–20° for a typical trainer — every time, regardless of airspeed or attitude. That's why you can stall in a steep turn at cruise speed.
Common error
Students very often confuse angle of attack with pitch attitude. They are not the same — and mixing them up is where a lot of stall confusion begins.
In a level 45° steep turn at cruise speed, the wing suddenly stalls. What stalled it?
Mnemonic
PARE
- Power — idle
- Ailerons — neutral
- Rudder — opposite the spin
- Elevator — forward
Spin recovery, if a stall becomes a spin.
From the Right Seat
I cover the airspeed tape and have students fly the buffet. Once you feel that a stall is about angle, not a number, slow flight finally clicks.
A DPE might ask
- Why can you stall at any airspeed?
- How does load factor change stall speed?
- Show me the sight picture at the critical AOA.