stall speed

English

Etymology

From how attempting to slow below this speed by pulling back on the nose will cause the aircraft to stall.

Noun

stall speed (plural stall speeds)

1. (aviation) The airspeed at which the lift generated by an aircraft flying with an angle of attack equal to the stall angle (the point of maximum lift for a given airspeed) is exactly equal to the aircraft's weight; the minimum airspeed at which it is possible to maintain level unaccelerated flight.
   • 1979 December 21, National Transportation Safety Board, “Aircraft and Flightcrew Performance”, in Aircraft Accident Report: American Airlines, Inc., DC-10-10, N110AA, Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois, May 25, 1979‎^[1], archived from the original on 17 August 2022, page 54:

     The aircraft configuration was such that there was little or no warning of the stall onset. The inboard slats were extended, and therefore, the flow separation from the stall would be limited to the outboard segment of the left wing and would not be felt by the left horizontal stabilizer. There would be little or no buffet. The DFDR also indicated that there was some turbulence, which could have masked any aerodynamic buffeting. Since the roll to the left began at V₂ + 6 and since the pilots were aware that V₂ was well above the aircraft's stall speed, they probably did not suspect that the roll to the left indicated a stall. In fact, the roll probably confused them, especially since the stickshaker had not activated.

Synonyms

• Vs