Flaps are used to

• A. Increase stalling speed
• B. Increase drag
• C. Decrease stalling speed and reduce max angle of attack thereby achieving a more nose down attitude near and at stalling speed
• D. Do not affect stall characteristics

Answer: (C)

Flaps change the wing’s lift characteristics by increasing camber, so the wing can produce the required lift at a lower speed. This lowers the stalling speed because you can fly slower before reaching the critical angle of attack. At the same time, flaps add drag, which helps with steeper approaches and controlling descent. Also, extending flaps lowers the angle of attack at which the wing stalls, so the stall occurs at a smaller AoA. Near stalling speed you typically pitch down to reduce the angle of attack and maintain safe airspeed, giving a nose-down tendency. This combination—lower stall speed, lower stall AoA, and the associated pitch tendency—best matches what flaps do.