The angle of attack at which an airplane wing stalls will

• A. Remain the same regardless of gross weight
• B. Increase with heavier weight
• C. Decrease with heavier weight
• D. Vary with bank angle

Answer: (A)

Stall happens when the wing’s angle of attack reaches the value at which the lift coefficient is maximum (Clmax). That critical angle of attack is set by the wing’s shape and configuration and stays essentially constant for a given airplane. Weight, density, or bank angle don’t change that angle; they change how fast you have to fly to reach enough lift. Heavier weight means you need more lift (and thus a higher speed) to reach stall, but the angle of attack at which stall occurs remains about the same. In a turn with a bank, the load factor increases and stall speed rises, yet the stall angle of attack stays roughly the same.