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PA32
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Can someone explain how and why stall speed (TAS?) varies with aircraft weight and altitude? If you need equations to explain this, I can still handle algebra, but I have forgotten all of my college calculus! Thanks.
Stall speed is the minimum airspeed at which an aircraft can maintain level flight. It is the point at which the wings stop generating enough lift to keep the aircraft in the air.
The heavier an aircraft is, the higher its stall speed will be. This is because the increased weight requires more lift from the wings to keep the aircraft in the air.
As altitude increases, the density of the air decreases. This means that the air is less able to create lift, resulting in a higher stall speed at higher altitudes.
Knowing the stall speed is crucial for safe flying. It allows pilots to maintain a safe speed during takeoff and landing, and to avoid stalling the aircraft during flight.
In addition to weight and altitude, stall speed can also be affected by factors such as air temperature, air density, and the shape and design of the aircraft's wings. These factors can all impact the amount of lift generated by the wings and therefore affect the stall speed.