Stall Speeds

The stall speed table is the clearest demonstration in the manual of what bank angle costs you. Read across a row and flaps buy you speed; read down a column and bank takes it away — and the taking accelerates.

At a glance

• Table conditions650 kg, throttle IDLE, C.G. most forward (20%), no ground effect
• 0° bankflaps 0° 49 KIAS (51 KCAS) · T/O 46 (48) · FULL 40 (44)
• 15° bankflaps 0° 50 KIAS (52 KCAS) · T/O 46 (49) · FULL 41 (44)
• 30° bankflaps 0° 53 KIAS (55 KCAS) · T/O 49 (51) · FULL 44 (47)
• 45° bankflaps 0° 59 KIAS (61 KCAS) · T/O 55 (57) · FULL 49 (52)
• 60° bankflaps 0° 71 KIAS (72 KCAS) · T/O 67 (67) · FULL 60 (62)
• Altitude loss in a conventional stall recovery, banking below 30°about 350 ft

The conditions the table assumes

Every figure below is quoted at a weight of 650 kg, with the throttle levers at idle, the C.G. at its most forward position — 20% — and no ground effect.

Stall speed by bank angle

• Wings level, 0° — flaps 0°: 49 KIAS (51 KCAS). Flaps T/O: 46 KIAS (48 KCAS). Flaps FULL: 40 KIAS (44 KCAS).

• 15° — flaps 0°: 50 KIAS (52 KCAS). Flaps T/O: 46 KIAS (49 KCAS). Flaps FULL: 41 KIAS (44 KCAS).

• 30° — flaps 0°: 53 KIAS (55 KCAS). Flaps T/O: 49 KIAS (51 KCAS). Flaps FULL: 44 KIAS (47 KCAS).

• 45° — flaps 0°: 59 KIAS (61 KCAS). Flaps T/O: 55 KIAS (57 KCAS). Flaps FULL: 49 KIAS (52 KCAS).

• 60° — flaps 0°: 71 KIAS (72 KCAS). Flaps T/O: 67 KIAS (67 KCAS). Flaps FULL: 60 KIAS (62 KCAS).

Figure: Stall speed against bank angle (redrawn).

The shape of each curve is the lesson. From 0° to 15° the flaps-0° figure moves a single knot; from 45° to 60° it moves twelve. Whatever flap setting you are in, the last fifteen degrees of bank cost far more than the first fifteen.

NOTE — Flight testing showed that a conventional stall recovery costs approximately 350 ft of altitude, with banking below 30°.

Check yourself

• Under what weight, C.G. and throttle conditions is the stall table quoted?

• What is the stall speed at 0° bank with flaps FULL, in KIAS and KCAS?

• How much does the flaps-0° stall speed change between 0° and 15° of bank, and between 45° and 60°?

• Which flap setting gives the lowest stall speed at every bank angle?

• How much altitude does a conventional stall recovery cost, and under what bank condition was that demonstrated?

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