What are common indicators that a student is approaching an impending stall, and how should you respond?

What are common indicators that a student is approaching an impending stall, and how should you respond?

• A. Buffet, nose-high attitude, decreasing indicated airspeed; reduce angle of attack, increase airspeed, and consider reducing bank angle.
• B. Smooth flight with increasing airspeed.
• C. Nose-down attitude and increasing airspeed.
• D. No indicators.

Answer: (A)

Signs of an impending stall in a glider include buffet (airframe vibration or a feel of the wing breaking into turbulent flow), a nose-high attitude as lift is nearing the loss of smooth flow, and a decreasing indicated airspeed toward the stall speed. When you sense these signs, the proper response is to push the nose slightly forward to reduce the angle of attack and regain attached airflow, which increases the lift and airspeed. If the bank is steep, relaxing the bank helps restore coordinated, recoverable flight and prevents a wing from stalling asymmetrically. Once the airspeed is back and the flow is smooth, continue the recovery to level flight. The other scenarios—smooth flight with increasing airspeed, a nose-down attitude with increasing airspeed, or no indicators—do not reflect an approaching stall and do not require the same corrective action.

Signs of an impending stall in a glider include buffet (airframe vibration or a feel of the wing breaking into turbulent flow), a nose-high attitude as lift is nearing the loss of smooth flow, and a decreasing indicated airspeed toward the stall speed. When you sense these signs, the proper response is to push the nose slightly forward to reduce the angle of attack and regain attached airflow, which increases the lift and airspeed. If the bank is steep, relaxing the bank helps restore coordinated, recoverable flight and prevents a wing from stalling asymmetrically. Once the airspeed is back and the flow is smooth, continue the recovery to level flight. The other scenarios—smooth flight with increasing airspeed, a nose-down attitude with increasing airspeed, or no indicators—do not reflect an approaching stall and do not require the same corrective action.