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The critical angle of attack…

  • A

    Changes with increasing weight.

  • B

    Decreases with forward center of gravity position.

  • C

    Is independent of the weight.

  • D

    Increases with backward center of gravity position.

There is a certain angle of attack (AoA), at which the flow cannot follow the shape of the profile, the flow separates from the surface and vortices are created. This results in a smaller suction, smaller lift and high drag. If AoA is increased further beyond this AoA, lift will reduce. This angle of attack is called critical angle of attack. The critical angle of attack will remain the same regardless of gross weight. A given wing will always stall at the same AoA, regardless of Weight, Load factor, Density Altitude and airspeed. However, increased weight, a higher load factor and increased density altitude do increase the airspeed at which the aircraft reaches its critical AoA.

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