What happens when a wing stalls?

Most general aviation wings stall between 16° and 18°. This is known as the critical angle of attack. As you increase the angle of attack the centre of pressure (bottom of the wing) moves forward. As this happens the boundary layer is unable to follow the contour of the wing and begins to separate from the top of the wing starting at the trailing edge. As the angle of attack continues to increase the centre of pressure continues to move forward and as subsequently the boundary layer continues to separate from the top of the wing moving toward the leading edge. When the maximum lift coefficient is reached the stall occurs and the center of pressure rapidly moves backwards. This causes the nose to pitch down. <div class="fusion-image-element fusion-image-align-center in-legacy-container" style="text-align:center;--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);"> <img width="1000" height="750" alt="The Critical Angle" src="https://www.runup.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/the-critical-angle-of-attack-the-stall-ex-12.jpg" class="img-responsive wp-image-1290" srcset="https://www.runup.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/the-critical-angle-of-attack-the-stall-ex-12-200x150.jpg 200w, https://www.runup.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/the-critical-angle-of-attack-the-stall-ex-12-400x300.jpg 400w, https://www.runup.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/the-critical-angle-of-attack-the-stall-ex-12-600x450.jpg 600w, https://www.runup.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/the-critical-angle-of-attack-the-stall-ex-12-800x600.jpg 800w, https://www.runup.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/the-critical-angle-of-attack-the-stall-ex-12.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 400px" />

Instrument Flying - Runup.ca - A Canadian Piloting Resource

Most general aviation wings stall between 16° and 18°. This is known as the critical angle of attack. As you increase the angle of attack the centre of pressure (bottom of the wing) moves forward. As this happens the boundary layer is unable to follow the contour of the wing and begins to separate from the top of the wing starting at the trailing edge. As the angle of attack continues to increase the centre of pressure continues to move forward and as subsequently the boundary layer continues to separate from the top of the wing moving toward the leading edge. When the maximum lift coefficient is reached the stall occurs and the center of pressure rapidly moves backwards. This causes the nose to pitch down.

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Canada Pilot Exercise 24 Insturment Flying

Objective

To learn (while flying VFR):

how to maintain absolute control over the airplane with reference only to the instruments.
about human factors that can negatively impact a pilot’s ability to control an aircraft.
about illusions and instrument failures that may occur during instrument flying and how to maintain control while experiencing them.
how to use and navigate with radio and satellite navigation systems.

Motivation

You need an instrument rating to legally file and fly instrument flight rules (IFR). However, haphazardly visual flight rules (VFR) pilots can find themselves in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). With the proper instrument knowledge and training, a pilot can avoid potentially fatal situations in IMC. Furthermore, knowledge of a series of radio and satellite navigational aids will give pilots more navigational confidence on long distance flights and (hopefully) prevent them from ever getting lost. Your instruments want to talk to you. Learn how to “speak instrument” so you can hear what they are saying. This skill will help you to avoid falling prey to various illusions.