What is one significant drawback associated with swept wings?

Swept wings are designed to improve the aerodynamic efficiency of an aircraft at high speeds by delaying the onset of shock waves and reducing drag. However, one significant drawback of swept wings is that they can stall at lower airspeeds compared to straight wings. This is primarily due to the way airflow behaves over the wing surfaces as the angle of attack increases.

The geometry of a swept wing leads to a situation where the wing's effective angle of attack can increase more sharply as the aircraft slows down, leading to a stall at lower speeds. This stall characteristics are particularly pronounced during takeoff and landing maneuvers, where lower speeds are prevalent, making careful handling of swept-wing aircraft crucial to avoid stalling.

While some wings may indeed experience turbulence or face challenges related to lift and structural integrity, the specific stalling behavior at lower airspeeds stands out as a critical operational consideration for aircraft equipped with swept wings. Understanding this characteristic helps in ensuring safe maneuverability during flight operations.