Which flap type is used to maximize lift at low speeds by increasing camber and wing area when deployed?

• A. Plain flap
• B. Fowler flap
• C. Slotted flap
• D. Split flap

Answer: (B)

Maximizing lift at low speeds comes from making the wing act like a bigger, more curved airfoil. Fowler flaps do this by moving the flap backward and downward. As the flap slides rearward, the wing’s effective surface area increases, and the edge becomes more curved (more camber). Both changes raise the lift coefficient at a given airspeed, which is exactly what you want for slower approaches and shorter takeoffs.

Plain flaps boost camber but don’t increase the wing’s area. Slotted flaps improve lift with a gap that re-energizes the airflow, but they don’t significantly enlarge the wing area. Split flaps increase camber with extra drag, again without increasing the wing’s area. Fowler flaps uniquely combine increased camber and expanded wing area for the greatest lift boost at low speeds.