What is one significant drawback associated with swept wings?

Swept wings are designed to improve performance at high speeds, particularly in subsonic and transonic flight conditions. However, they can encounter a significant drawback related to the stall characteristics of the aircraft. Specifically, swept wings can stall at lower airspeeds than straight wings, making this a critical consideration for pilots during low-speed maneuvers.

When an aircraft with swept wings approaches its stall angle, the airflow over the wings can become disturbed, leading to a loss of lift. This risks the aircraft potentially stalling at speeds that might still be considered safe for other designs with straight wings. The phenomenon affects airfoil efficiency and stall behavior, particularly at higher angles of attack, which is why pilots need to be particularly cautious.

This stall behavior is a critical factor in aircraft design, and pilots must understand the aerodynamic implications of wing shape to manage safety effectively. The other statements do not accurately capture this specific downside of swept wing designs, clarifying why the focus on stall characteristics is particularly relevant here.