Technical Airline Interview (CW) Practice Test

What is a disadvantage of swept wings?

Wing tip stalls first. Lower takeoff speed. Lower stall speed. Enhanced low-speed handling.

Correct Answer:

Wing tip stalls first.

Explanation:

Swept wings change how air flows over the wing, so the area far from the fuselage reaches the critical angle of attack first as you stall. This means the stall tends to start at the wing tips. When the tips stall, aileron effectiveness at the outer wing is lost early, making lateral control harder and increasing the chance of an abrupt roll or spin. That’s the main drawback of swept wings. In contrast, lower takeoff speed and lower stall speed aren’t characteristic of swept wings—their lift is less favorable at low speeds, often requiring higher takeoff and stall speeds. Enhanced low-speed handling isn’t a feature of swept designs either, which is why those options aren’t correct.

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