Definition
A rapid, irregular shaking or vibration of the airframe and flight controls caused by turbulent, separated airflow striking the aircraft's structure — most commonly the tail surfaces — as the wing approaches or enters a stalled condition.
Plain English
A shudder or shaking you feel through the airframe and controls when the airflow over the wing starts breaking up. It's an early warning that the wing is about to stop flying.
Context Anchor
A pilot may feel buffeting during stall practice, during slow flight near a stall, or anytime the airplane is flying with disturbed airflow around the wings or tail.
Derivation
From the verb 'buffet,' meaning to strike or knock about repeatedly. The aircraft is being 'buffeted' by the disturbed, swirling air coming off the wing — a useful image, because that's literally what's happening.
Why Pilots Care
It provides a clear, natural warning that a stall is imminent, giving the pilot time to lower the nose before full loss of lift occurs.
Analogy
It is like a flag flapping in a strong, uneven wind. The shaking is not random; it happens because the airflow has become rough and broken instead of smooth.
Intuition Check
Buffeting does not mean normal engine vibration or every small bump in rough air. In stall training, it means shaking caused by disturbed airflow, especially when the wing is near losing lift.
Example Sentence 1
As airspeed decayed during the power-off stall, the student felt the first light buffeting through the control yoke and began the recovery.
Example Sentence 2
As the angle of attack increased in the turn, light buffeting began just before the stall horn sounded.