Which statement about stall speed is accurate?

Stall speed is the minimum speed at which an aircraft can maintain controlled flight. It is influenced by various design characteristics of the aircraft, including the wing's geometry, such as sweepback and dihedral angles.

The accurate statement that decreasing sweepback decreases stall speed is correct because when the sweepback of a wing is reduced, the wing's effective angle of attack can be increased, allowing the wing to generate more lift at lower speeds. This means that the airflow over the wing can remain attached longer, enhancing lift and delaying the onset of a stall.

In general, a straight wing (having zero or minimal sweep) tends to have a lower stall speed as it is more efficient at generating lift at lower airspeeds compared to swept wings, which are typically optimized for higher speeds and thus have a higher stall speed. This relates to how the wing interacts with the airflow; a less swept wing presents a larger effective area to the oncoming airflow, allowing for better lift characteristics at lower velocities.

This understanding is crucial for pilots, particularly in terms of aircraft performance and handling characteristics during different phases of flight, including takeoff and landing.