Thread: Stalls
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Old 09-24-2007, 05:21 PM
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mike734
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Joined APC: Mar 2005
Position: Ca B737
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Put you hand out the window at highway speeds. As you angle your hand up you experience lift. Now, at a certain angle the up force stops and your hand is just forced back against the air flow. Your hand has stalled. The air must flow over and under your hand to make lift. The minute you angle your hand too much lift stops and your hand is pure drag.

Crude yes but the model should make it clear. If you wish, get a model airplane wing and try the same experiment. (Go slowly with someone else driving) The more you angle the wing the more lift you generate for a given speed. At a certain angle the lift will stop. You will feel a dramatic increase in drag and loss of lift.

Does this make sense?

The reason for this is because lift is actually the force generated by ACCELERATING the air downward. The air flow must be deflected down in the direction opposite the opposing force (gravity) Low pressure on top of the wing is a byproduct of this action. F=Ma is the ruling equation. Source? The Proficient Pilot By Barry Schifft. It is one of my favorite books.
http://www.overstock.com/Books-Movie...cid=80486&fp=F

Last edited by mike734; 09-24-2007 at 05:27 PM.
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