Angle of attack is one of several flight dynamics. Not to be confused with flight path angle. it represents the angle at which the chord of an airplane is formed relative to the angle of the wind. All airplanes have an angle of attack when flying. Pilots can increase or decrease the angle of attack, which can have different effects on the airplane’s flight characteristics. What is angle of attack exactly, and how does it affect airplanes?
Angle of Attack Explained
Angle of attack represents the angle of a reference line on an airplane — typically a chord or leading edge — relative to the angle of the wind. The wind may blow directly towards or away from the airplane at a 180-degree angle. Alternatively, it may blow slightly upward or downward relative to the airplane. Angle of attack takes into account the angle of a reference line on an airplane relative to the angle of the wind.
Angle of Attack and Lift
The amount of lift an airplane generated during flight is influenced by the airplane’s angle of attack. Pilots can typically increase the airplane’s angle of attack to achieve more lift. As the airplane’s angle of attack increases, the airplane will generate more lift because it will be positioned at a steeper angle relative to the angle of the wind.
Keep in mind that angle of attack also affects drag. A low angle of attack will result in minimal drag. A high angle of attack, conversely, will result in greater drag.
Angle of Attack and Stalls
While an increase in angle of attack will result in more lift, it can leave airplanes susceptible to stalls. Stalls are a phenomenon in which an airplane fails to produce a sufficient amount of lift due to a “critical angle of attack.” Air will flow smoothly over the airplane’s wings, and without a sufficient amount of lift, the airplane will essentially fall from the sky.
Pilots can only increase the airplane’s angle of attack up to a specific point until they experience a loss of lift. Known as a “critical angle of attack,” it represents the angle of attack at which stalls occur.
Even if an airplane stalls due to a “critical angle of attack,” though, pilots can lower the airplane’s angle of attack to fix it. Once the airplane is below the “critical angle of attack,” it will regain lift. Pilots can then control the airplane without a loss of lift.
