Critical angle of attack[edit]

The critical angle of attack is the angle of attack which produces maximum lift
coefficient. This is also called the "stall angle of attack". Below the critical angle of
attack, as the angle of attack increases, the coefficient of lift (Cl increases. !t the same
time, a"o#e the critical angle of attack, as angle of attack increases, the air "egins to flow
less smoothl$ o#er the upper surface of the airfoil and "egins to separate from the upper
surface. %n most airfoil shapes, as the angle of attack increases, the upper surface
separation point of the flow mo#es from the trailing edge towards the leading edge. !t the
critical angle of attack, upper surface flow is more separated and the airfoil or wing is
producing its maximum coefficient of lift. !s angle of attack increases further, the upper
surface flow "ecomes more and more full$ separated and the airfoil&wing produces less
coefficient of lift.[']
!"o#e this critical angle of attack, the aircraft is said to "e in a stall. ! fixed(wing
aircraft "$ definition is stalled at or a"o#e the critical angle of attack rather than at or
"elow a particular airspeed. The airspeed at which the aircraft stalls #aries with the
weight of the aircraft, the load factor, the center of gra#it$ of the aircraft and other
factors. )owe#er the aircraft alwa$s stalls at the same critical angle of attack. The critical
or stalling angle of attack is t$picall$ around *+, ( -., for man$ airfoils.
/ome aircraft are e0uipped with a "uilt(in flight computer that automaticall$ pre#ents the
aircraft from increasing the angle of attack an$ further when a maximum angle of attack
is reached, irrespecti#e of pilot input. This is called the 1angle of attack limiter1 or 1alpha
limiter1. 2odern airliners that ha#e fl$("$(wire technolog$ a#oid the critical angle of
attack "$ means of software in the computer s$stems that go#ern the flight control
surfaces.
3n takeoff and landing operations from short runwa$s, such as 4a#al !ircraft Carrier
operations and /T%5 "ack countr$ fl$ing, aircraft ma$ "e e0uipped with angle of attack
or 5ift 6eser#e 3ndicators. These indicators measure the angle of attack (!%! or the
7otential of 8ing 5ift (7%85, or 5ift 6eser#e directl$ and help the pilot fl$ close to the
stalling point with greater precision. /T%5 operations re0uire the aircraft to "e a"le to
operate close to the critical angle of attack during landings and at the "est angle of clim"
during takeoffs. !ngle of attack indicators are used "$ pilots for maximum performance
during these maneu#ers since airspeed information is onl$ indirectl$ related to stall
"eha#iour.