Aero Fact: Stall Speed and Weight
Stall speed increases with aircraft weight due to lift coefficient and load factor.
By AircoreDynamics •
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1 min read
Definition: Higher weight demands higher CL, increasing stall speed; load factor further raises it.
Physics insight: L = 0.5 ρ V^2 S C_L; the C_L,max limit sets stall onset.
Example: At n=2 (60° bank), VS ≈ √n × VS1.
V_S = √(2W/(ρ S C_L,max))
Rules of thumb: Know maneuvering speed (VA); leave margin for banked turns.
Common pitfalls: Icing lowers C_L,max and raises VS.
References: FAA Airplane Flying Handbook