In a climbing turn, which wing stalls first?

In a climbing turn, the higher wing tends to stall first. This occurs due to the difference in angle of attack experienced by each wing. When an aircraft is in a turn, the load factor increases, which leads to a higher stall speed. The wing that is higher in the turn is also experiencing a greater angle of attack because it has to generate additional lift to counteract the increased load from the turn, making it more susceptible to stalling.

As the angle of bank increases, the effective weight distribution shifts. The lower wing experiences less lift requirement since it is aligned more with the direction of the turn, while the higher wing, due to its increased angle of attack to maintain altitude, is pushed closer to its critical angle of attack. This differential response is crucial in understanding how aircraft behave during climbing turns. Once the higher wing exceeds its critical angle of attack, it will stall, which can lead to a loss of control if not managed correctly.