Definition
Small, sharp-edged strips fixed along the leading edge of a wing, near the wing root, that deliberately disturb airflow at high angles of attack so that the inboard section of the wing stalls before the outboard section. This ensures the stall begins near the fuselage and progresses outward, preserving aileron effectiveness and roll control as the stall develops.
Plain English
Tiny strips on the front edge of the wing, close to the body of the airplane, that make the inner part of the wing stop flying first when the airplane is flown too slowly. That way the wingtips keep working a bit longer, so the pilot can still control the airplane with the ailerons during the stall.
Context Anchor
Seen during preflight inspection and in discussions of stall behavior and wing design.
Derivation
Called 'stall strips' because they are literally strips of metal whose job is to trigger a stall in a chosen part of the wing first. The name describes exactly what they do.
Why Pilots Care
They improve lateral control during a stall by keeping the ailerons effective longer, reducing the risk of an abrupt wing drop.
Intuition Check
Stall strips do not prevent a stall. They help control where the stall starts on the wing.
Example Sentence 1
The stall strips on the wing roots make the inboard section stall first, so the ailerons remain effective during the early part of the stall.
Example Sentence 2
During preflight inspection the pilot checked the stall strips for damage that could change the wing's stall behavior.