What does stall speed mean when referring to planes and also glide ratio, what is that?

Question

I have just been looking at the Icarus C42b microlight which has a stall speed of "just 65mph and a glide ratio of 11-1" What do these figures mean?

I think that the stall speed is the speed which the plane MUST stay above to maintain altitude and the glide ratio would probably be the rate at which it falls if there is an engine failure.

Am i right?

Answer 1

Stall speed is the speed at which the wing ceases to be able to generate lift because the air velocity over the wing is too low.

Glide ratio is the ratio of the distance travelled to the height descended. ie your microloght will travel 11 ft forward for each foot it drops when simply gliding (ie not under power)

Answer 2

ok,  im gona simplify it so you can understand it with no complicated terminology ...

1)  the stall speed is the minimum speed that a plane wing can generate lift,,,   this happens because below this speed no more smooth airflow can pass the upper side of the wing, so the plane looses its lift and stalls,   a stall is simply falling down.....

as foe the glide ratio  it refers how much distance can a plane travel without engines,,  in case of an engine failure..

a glide ratio of    10 : 1       means a plane can travel 10 feet horizontal distance for each one feet   of altitude loss...

of course this ratio is for no wind condition,,   if there was strong headwind   the glide ratio becomes less  and vice versa..     take care  :)

Answer 3

Paul,

You are almost right with the stall speed.  It is the speed an aircraft must stay above to remain airborne.  The glide ratio?  For every 11 feet of distance, the aircraft drops 1 foot,

Badco.

Answer 4

Stall Speed is the lowest speed before the wing can not produce enought lift to hold up the weight of the aircraft.  The lift is not being produced because there is a seperation of airflow over the wing because of the angle of attack.

Glide ratio is how far it will go horiziontally versus verical- in your example.. it will go 11 feet forward per 1 foot of altitude loss.. or 1100' per 100' of loss alittude.

This means that if your above 6500'AGL, you could actually glide around 11nm (no wind situation)

Answer 5

100%!!!!

Answer 6

If a plane stalls that means it's going WAY to slow. On most flight games such has Ace Combat. when u slow down a signal will come up and say stall if your traveling to slow. Same thing goes in real life. If a plane goes slow enough then  it'll fall to earth and  BOOM. That's if u keep it in stall

Answer 7

A stall is the sudden loss of lift generated by an airfoil.

It is the minimum speed required for an airfoil to fly.

Stalls depend also on angle of attack of the airfoil or nose up attitude.

The stall speed you are given for that plane is in straight and level flight. The stall speed changes with angle of attack and bank of the aircraft.

An aircraft can stall at any speed if the critical angle of attack is reached or for reference " with the nose up".

Glide ratio is the distance an aircraft will travel horizontal over a drop in altitude. The aircraft must fly a predetermined airspeed in order to maintain the glide ratio. The microlight may have to glide at 50 mph(for reference only) in order to travel forward 11 feet while losing 1 foot in altitude.

The figures they give you are in a no wind situation.

Answer 8

Stall speed is the minimum speed an aircrafts wings will generate enough lift to keep the craft at altitude. Glide ratio? No idea, but this may help...see if it makes sense to you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glide_ratio