Definition
A stall warning device that vibrates the control yoke or stick as the airplane approaches the critical angle of attack, providing a strong tactile alert before an aerodynamic stall occurs. Stick shakers are typically driven by an electric motor with an off-center weight attached to the control column, and are activated by inputs from angle-of-attack sensors.
Plain English
A device that physically shakes the control yoke to warn the pilot the airplane is about to stall. You feel it in your hands before the airplane actually stops flying.
Context Anchor
Seen in stall discussions, especially for airplanes equipped with automatic warning systems that alert the pilot through the flight controls.
Derivation
“Stick” refers to the pilot’s control stick or control yoke. “Shaker” comes from the action of shaking. Together, the term means a device that shakes the flight control to get the pilot’s attention.
Why Pilots Care
Gives an immediate tactile alert that allows the pilot to reduce angle of attack and recover before loss of control occurs.
Intuition Check
A stick shaker is not normal vibration or rough air shaking the controls. It is an intentional warning system that shakes the control stick or yoke because the airplane is getting close to a stall.
Example Sentence 1
As the pilot continued to raise the nose, the stick shaker activated, signaling that a stall was imminent.
Example Sentence 2
The jet's stall protection system includes stick shakers that vibrate the yoke during approach when airspeed drops too low.