O.T. Euphemism runs amok.

[Robatoy]

You mean mass..as in payload? Not "JUST" angle of attack?

[HeyBub]

Said another way:

The angle of attack changes the amount of air flowing over the wing. The mass of air flowing over a wing determines lift.

As altitude increases, air density decreases (duh). For the same angle of attack, a higher altitude means less mass of air over the wing while the aircraft's weight remains constant. At some altitude, for any given angle of attack, a stall will occur.

[HeyBub]

Sure. They still wax the wings of a B52 to make 'em slickier. That's probably to cut down drag and increase airspeed, but it surely affects stall characteristics.

[Robatoy]

Soooo if air is thinner a stall would occur at a shallower angle or lower airspeed? (trick question)

[Leon]

He does that so he can get into more arguements. Her we go again!

[J. Clarke]

No. If you are maintaining constant airspeed there is some altitude at which for any given angle of attack the aircraft will be unable to sustain level flight, however this is not a stall. A stall occurs when flow detaches from the upper surface of the wing and further increases in angle of attack result in less rather than more lift. And this occurs at a specific angle of attack.

[J. Clarke]

Nope, I posted from my gmail account so I could see Robatwit's post.

[Robatoy]

Robatwit... how original Did you make that one up all by yourself?...Is that why it took you so long to reply?

[Robatoy]

STOP right here....

You mean... that if you change airspeed, things change? And here *I* thought you said it was strictly a function of Angle Of Attack... oh wait.. you DID say that.... . . . sucks to be wrong, eh John?

[Lobby Dosser]

How about the texture of the paint?

------------------------------------------------------------- I don't know, but will guess it is much less a factor than the weight.

[Lobby Dosser]

You mean mass..as in payload? Not "JUST" angle of attack?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

That's what I thought I meant.

[Robatoy]

you can tell the class what the white segment of the airspeed indicator means...