The stalling speed will be highest when which condition is met?

The stalling speed will be highest when which condition is met?

• A. High gross weight and forward CG
• B. Low weight and aft CG
• C. High weight and aft CG
• D. Low weight and forward CG

Answer: (A)

Stall speed is the speed at which the wing can produce enough lift to balance the airplane’s weight, so it depends on weight and the lift capability of the wing (Cl max). Heavier weight directly increases the required lift, which raises the stall speed via the relation Vs ∝ sqrt(W). The position of the center of gravity affects stability and how the tail must counteract pitching moments. A forward CG makes the nose-down moment larger, so the tail must work harder to balance it, which reduces the wing’s margin and tends to push the aircraft toward stall at a higher airspeed. Put together, the highest stall speed occurs with a heavy airplane and a forward center of gravity.

Stall speed is the speed at which the wing can produce enough lift to balance the airplane’s weight, so it depends on weight and the lift capability of the wing (Cl max). Heavier weight directly increases the required lift, which raises the stall speed via the relation Vs ∝ sqrt(W). The position of the center of gravity affects stability and how the tail must counteract pitching moments. A forward CG makes the nose-down moment larger, so the tail must work harder to balance it, which reduces the wing’s margin and tends to push the aircraft toward stall at a higher airspeed. Put together, the highest stall speed occurs with a heavy airplane and a forward center of gravity.