I am having trouble visualizing stall speed (in regards to CG), and I am hoping someone can help me.
I know that a stall can occur at ANY AIRSPEED or ATTITUDE as long as the critical angle of attack is exceeded. I've also read that a forward CG means a high stall speed and an aft CG means a low stall speed.
I know that one never wants to fly a plane outside of CG limits...however:
If I had a forward CG, my plane would be nose heavy. In order to retain straight and level flight, I would have to pull back on the yoke. Since the plane is nose heavy, it seems to me that I would need to INCREASE my airspeed in order to produce enough lift to equal the nose heavy weight. Is this what is meant by a increased stall speed?
With an aft CG, I believe stall speed is lowered. Since the nose will already be at a high angle of attack due to the increase aft weight, I am thinking that any great increase in speed will stall the plane more quickly. Therefore, is stall speed considered lower with an aft CG because lift increased due to the nose is at a pitch-high attitude (allowing for slower flight)? Or, is it considered "lower" because I would have to reduce my airspeed in order to bring the nose down?
I know that flaps lowers stall speed and increases increases lift. If I did not use flaps on approach, but flew at the same speed as if I had deployed flaps...I would probably stall, correct?
Since stalls can occur at any speed, I'm not exactly sure what is meant by stall SPEED.
Does stall speed mean:
1) I have to stay ABOVE a certain speed in order for the plane to avoid stalling?
2) The plane stalls at a higher airspeed?
3) Or...the critical angle of attack is exceeded at a higher speed because the plane is going faster?
My question is hard to get across via computer, but please try to clarify this issue for me.
P.S. - Is it true that and aft CG reduces drag? How can this be? I would think the nose high pitch attitude would increase drag.