MD-Terp wrote:Stalls aren't induced by airspeed or G force -- they're induced by the angle of attack of the lifting surface against the airflow, and the result is very predictable indeed -- dramatic loss of lift and increase in drag on that particular lifting surface.
However, I agree that it seems like some of the modeled aircraft do very well in simulating stall conditions, and others are severely more forgiving than their real-world counterparts. With open-source projects of this scope there will always be some quality control issues, but maybe we can support the diversity of the project by documenting which models behave realistically and which are too "permissive" of out-of-envelope flight parameters.
I wonder if this discussion would best be moved to the "aircraft modeling" forum?
Cheers,
I agree with you that airspeed or G force in themselves don't induce a stall, But both are major factors in causing an aircraft to assume an angle of attack where it will stall. A more heavily loaded airplane will fly at a greater angle of attack, and close to stall, for a given airspeed than if is lightly loaded. It also requires more power due to the added resistance of the greater angle of attack.
An airplane entering a steep turn has become heavier for the duration of the turn due to the G force. It will assume the greater angle of attack, and also the greater resistance that goes with it.
Going into a turn at a low speed can start a deadly cycle, the angle of attack increases due to the increased G force, the resistance goes up due to the greater angle of attack, speed drops due to the increased resistance, and the cycle continues until stall is induced. It can all happen very quickly at a low enough speed.
In Alaska my sister says they are called "Moose Stalls". People get distracted looking at wildlife and don't notice they are getting into trouble until it is too late.
It is a factor that is very important in real world aircraft, and kills or injures quite a few people each year. I think it should be a factor in a serious flight simulator.
I think you are right that it would be best in "modeling forum, and I had been thinking for some time of posting about it there, when I found the stall thread here. I don't know how to go about getting it moved. Does anyone else reading know how to do this?