Definition
High-lift devices mounted along the leading edge of the wing that extend forward and slightly downward to increase the wing's effective camber and delay the airflow separation that causes a stall. Slats allow the wing to operate at higher angles of attack and lower airspeeds without stalling, improving lift during takeoff, landing, and low-speed maneuvering.
Plain English
Movable panels on the front edge of the wing that slide forward to help the wing keep flying at slower speeds and steeper nose-up angles without stalling.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of high-speed airplane wing design, approach and landing configuration, and leading-edge lift devices.
Derivation
From the Old English word for a thin, narrow strip of material. The name reflects the shape of the device — a long, narrow panel running along the front edge of the wing.
Why Pilots Care
Slats lower the stall speed and improve handling during takeoff and landing, directly affecting safety margins on every flight.
Intuition Check
Do not think of slats as fixed strips like window blinds. On an airplane, slats are aerodynamic panels that move to change airflow over the wing.
Example Sentence 1
As the crew configured the airplane for landing, the slats extended along the leading edge of the wings to allow a safe approach speed.
Example Sentence 2
During the takeoff roll the slats deployed automatically, allowing the aircraft to rotate at a safer speed.