Stalling Speeds

Stalling speed varies with weight, with configuration and — most sharply — with bank angle. The bank angle column is where the numbers get away from students, because the increase is not linear and it is large.

At a glance

• 1900 kg, gear UP, flaps UP, 0° bank69 KIAS
• 1900 kg, gear DOWN, flaps APP, 0° bank66 KIAS
• 1900 kg, gear DOWN, flaps LDG, 0° bank62 KIAS
• 1999 kg, gear UP, flaps UP, 0° bank72 KIAS
• 1999 kg, gear DOWN, flaps LDG, 0° bank64 KIAS
• 1700 kg, gear UP, flaps UP, 0° bank66 KIAS
• 1510 kg, gear UP, flaps UP, 0° bank61 KIAS
• 1510 kg, gear DOWN, flaps LDG, 0° bank54 KIAS
• 1900 kg, flaps UP, 30° bank74 KIAS
• 1900 kg, flaps UP, 45° bank81 KIAS
• 1900 kg, flaps UP, 60° bank95 KIAS
• 1999 kg, flaps UP, 60° bank99 KIAS

The conditions

All the figures are taken at the most forward centre of gravity, power off.

Wings level

At 1900 kg (4189 lb) the stalling speed is 69 KIAS with gear and flaps UP, 66 KIAS with gear down and flaps APP, and 62 KIAS with gear down and flaps LDG — 68, 65 and 61 KCAS respectively.

At 1999 kg (4407 lb) the same three configurations give 72, 68 and 64 KIAS. At 1700 kg (3748 lb) they give 66, 64 and 60 KIAS. At 1510 kg (3329 lb) they give 61, 58 and 54 KIAS.

Across the whole weight range, the clean configuration stalls seven to eight knots higher than the landing configuration.

What bank does

At 1900 kg (4189 lb) with flaps and gear UP, the stalling speed rises from 69 KIAS wings level to 74 KIAS at 30° of bank, 81 KIAS at 45° and 95 KIAS at 60°. At 1999 kg (4407 lb) the 60° figure is 99 KIAS.

Notice how the increments grow. The first thirty degrees of bank cost five knots; the last fifteen cost fourteen. The relationship between bank and stalling speed is not something you can estimate linearly in the turn.

NOTE — The KIAS values in the stalling speed tables may not be accurate at the stall.

Check yourself

• At what centre of gravity and power setting were these figures taken?

• What is the stalling speed at 1900 kg, gear down, flaps LDG, wings level?

• How much does the stalling speed rise between 45° and 60° of bank at 1900 kg, flaps UP?

• What is the clean stalling speed at 1510 kg?

• What does the manual say about the accuracy of the KIAS values at the stall?

Study aid — always fly your aircraft's current AFM/POH.