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Old 28th May 2011 | 19:21
  #425 (permalink)  
HazelNuts39
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,682
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From: France - mostly
If I am misreading some recent posts, I apologize, but there seems to be some confusion about stall warning and airspeed. The sudden drop in indicated airspeed was due to ice particles blocking the pitots, not due to a real speed reduction. Stall warning begins when the AoA exceeds approx. 4 degrees, and that threshold was exceeded at several times. AoA reached 16 degrees at 38000 ft, indicating that the airplane was definitely stalled at that point.

Stall warning, followed a few seconds later by uncommanded left/right rolling motions probably accompanied by heavy buffet is usually accepted as an indication of "you are now stalled".
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