Originally Posted by
piperboy84
3. Questions,
1.
Is a "falling leaf" really a stalled condition, and if not what signifies advancing from a falling leaf stall to a full stall condition? and will a falling leaf always progress to a fully developed stall or will you just basically flutter all the way down if inputs are not changed.
The airworthiness standards define the stall as full back stick or an uncommanded pitching and/or rolling motion.
The flight test community would define the stall usually as the high AoA point where the pilot has ceased to have full control in all three axes.
Either way, the falling leaf (which I agree with Jock, is a bloody silly thing to do, not least because it's not a manoeuvre tested during certification, and instructors should not be doing untested manoeuvres with their students) is stupid, but does meet the definition of a stalled condition.
2. Can you go directly from falling leaf to incipient spin?
Yes, typically through failure to maintain zero sideslip during the pitch-up part of this stupid and irresponsible maneouvre.
3. "Back of the drag curve" do the flaps have to be deployed to reach the Back of the drag curve point?
Thanks
Nope, the drag curve just changes shape - you can get on the back of the drag curve in any configuration so long as the aeroplane has enough pitch authority to let you - which almost invariably they will do.
G