In a spin, which wing's behavior causes rotation to continue?

In a spin, which wing's behavior causes rotation to continue?

• A. The rising wing regains lift and stops rotation
• B. The dipping wing remains stalled and the rotation continues
• C. In a spin, the wing that dips remains stalled, while the rising wing regains lift, causing rotation.
• D. The airplane automatically stops rotating when one wing stalls

Answer: (C)

In a spin, the motion is driven by an asymmetric stall between the wings. The wing that dips becomes the more deeply stalled one, producing very little lift and a lot of drag. This wing’s drag and lack of lift create the turning moment that keeps the aircraft rotating around the spin axis. The opposite wing—the rising wing—remains less stalled and can regain lift, but that lift on its own does not stop the rotation. The combination of a stalled, high-drag wing on the lower side and a more lifted wing on the other side sustains the corkscrew descent, so rotation continues.

In a spin, the motion is driven by an asymmetric stall between the wings. The wing that dips becomes the more deeply stalled one, producing very little lift and a lot of drag. This wing’s drag and lack of lift create the turning moment that keeps the aircraft rotating around the spin axis. The opposite wing—the rising wing—remains less stalled and can regain lift, but that lift on its own does not stop the rotation. The combination of a stalled, high-drag wing on the lower side and a more lifted wing on the other side sustains the corkscrew descent, so rotation continues.