The “stall speed” of an aircraft is the minimum speed at which it can maintain controlled, level flight in a specified configuration (e.g., landing configuration) and at a specific load factor. It’s a crucial parameter for aircraft design and operations as it defines the minimum speed below which an aircraft should not be flown to avoid a stall, which can lead to a loss of lift and control. The formula for calculating the stall speed is as follows:
- Stall Speed (): Meters per Second (m/s).
- Weight (): Newtons (N) or Pounds-Force (lbf).
- Air Density (): Kilograms per Cubic Meter (kg/m³) or Slugs per Cubic Foot (sl/ft³).
- Wing Area (): Square Meters (m²) or Square Feet (ft²).
- Maximum Coefficient of Lift (): Dimensionless value.