What happens to stall speed when lowering flaps?

When flaps are lowered, they change the airflow characteristics over the wings, leading to an increase in lift at lower airspeeds. This is crucial for allowing the aircraft to fly safely at slower velocities during takeoff and landing phases. The deployment of flaps alters the wing's camber and increases the overall surface area exposed to the airstream, which enhances lift generation even though the aircraft is moving slower.

As a result of this increased lift, the stall speed, which is the minimum speed at which the aircraft can maintain level flight without stalling, actually decreases. By enabling the aircraft to achieve sufficient lift at a lower airspeed, flaps effectively provide the pilot with a margin of safety during slower flight regimes. Thus, lowering flaps is a critical technique to ensure that stall speed is lowered, promoting safer operations during critical phases of flight.