aerodynamicsFAA-published sample question (ATM, Aug 2021)
What is an advantage of a sweptback wing?
A
It allows shock wave induced flow separation.
B
The design delays the onset of compressibility.✓ Correct Answer
C
The wings tend to stall at the wing root first.
Explanation
Sweeping the wing reduces the component of airflow perpendicular to the leading edge, which raises the critical Mach number and delays the onset of compressibility effects (Airplane Flying Handbook Chapter 15). Shock-induced separation is a problem, not an advantage, and swept wings tend to stall at the tips, not the root.
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