When the wing reaches CL Max and AoA is increased further, what happens to lift?

When the wing reaches CL Max and AoA is increased further, what happens to lift?

• A. Lift decreases (stall occurs)
• B. Lift increases
• C. Drag decreases
• D. Angle of attack decreases

Answer: (A)

When lift reaches its maximum at a given angle of attack, pushing the angle of attack higher causes the airflow to separate from the wing surface. This flow separation disrupts the smooth pressure difference that creates lift, so the lift coefficient falls off and overall lift decreases—a stall has begun. At the same time, drag rises because the separated, turbulent flow increases resistance. The angle of attack, however, does not decrease in this situation; it continues to be high (and typically would need to be reduced to recover from the stall).

When lift reaches its maximum at a given angle of attack, pushing the angle of attack higher causes the airflow to separate from the wing surface. This flow separation disrupts the smooth pressure difference that creates lift, so the lift coefficient falls off and overall lift decreases—a stall has begun. At the same time, drag rises because the separated, turbulent flow increases resistance. The angle of attack, however, does not decrease in this situation; it continues to be high (and typically would need to be reduced to recover from the stall).